Murata's Stellar Outing Foiled by Lynchburg's Shutout

Toru Murata's stellar outing was foiled by strong Lynchburg pitching in a 4-0 win for the hometown Hillcats Saturday night. Lynchburg fired right back at Kinston after the K-Tribe shutout Lynchburg for a series opening win on Friday night.

Murata's third appearance of the season was his first Professional start in America, and it was a great one. He lasted four innings, the first three of which were perfect frames. Murata allowed just one hit over four innings and struck out seven batters without yielding a walk.

Murata's stellar outing was followed by the first appearance of Adam Miller since the spring of 2008.

Once a feared pitching prospect and first round pick, Miller needed a number of surgeries to repair an issue with the pulley system in his right middle finger. Miller's issues were considered as career-threatening as they were rare. The 2003 first round pick played for Kinston in 2004 and 2005. He had worked his way to AAA before his most recent injury forced a nearly three year absence from the game.

Miller struck out the first batter he faced to start the fifth inning. Joey Terdoslavich followed by Smacking a double and scoring on a home run by the next batter, Joe Leonard. Leonard's shot broke an 18 inning scoreless streak posted by the Hillcats offense, thanks in large part to Kinston's shutout of the Hillcats on Friday night. After a walk, single and an out, the fifth continued to unravel for the K-Tribe. New K-Triber Delvi Cid let a single to center field slip past him which gave Lynchburg an added insurance run.

Miller pitched one inning, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits. He walked one and struck out one.

The K-Tribe's best chance to break the shutout came in the eighth. With two men on thanks to Lynchburg miscues in the field, Adam Abraham recorded the innings first out via the strikeout. Abner Abreu singled to load the bases But Kinston's following batters both popped out to leave three aboard. Kinston had a base runner on in every inning but one and left twelve on in the game.

Miller's(0-1, 27.00) first decision of the year comes as a loss while Lynchburg's starter Dimasther Delgado (1-3, 4.82)picks up his first win of the season.

Game three decides the current series and gets underway at 1:05 in Lynchburg at Calvin Falwell Field on Sunday. Sunday's matinee contest will feature Kinston's ace, Drew Pomeranz (0-0, 2.00) searching for his first win this season. Pomeranz will be opposed by Lynchburg righty Zeke Spruill (1-1, 1.70).