K-Tribe complete divisional sweep

Chris Gimenez and John Drennen had three RBIs apiece Saturday as the Kinston Indians completed a wire-to-wire run in the Carolina League Southern Division with a 17-4 rout of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

The victory clinched the second-half title for the defending champion Indians (40-28), who also took the first-half crown for their first season sweep since 2001. Kinston will face the Salem Avalanche in the opening round of the playoffs, beginning Wednesday.

Gimenez walked and scored on Drennan's three-run homer in the first inning, then singled and scored again in the second. He also belted his 20th homer leading off the sixth and delivered a two-run double in the seventh.

Joshua Rodriguez, Matthew Whitney and Jerad Head each plated two runs for the Indians.

Kinston starter Frank Herrmann (11-5) won his fourth straight decision after allowing two runs -- one earned -- on eight hits and a walk with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 frames. Kevin Dixon recorded his second save, despite yielding two runs on four hits over the final 3 1/3 innings.

Jeff Stevens drove in two runs and Derrick Arnold went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for the Pelicans (29-29).

Myrtle Beach starter Ryan Drese (0-3) gave up six runs on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts over three innings.