Salem trounces Kinston in opener

An early 5-0 lead helped Salem cruise to a 10-3 victory over Kinston on Wednesday in game 1 in the first round of the Carolina League playoffs.

Wladimir Sutil led off the game with a walk, moved to third base on Billy Hart's single and scored on Mitch Einertson's double-play grounder. Mark Ori followed with a double to center and crossed the plate on Christopher Johnson's single.

Sutil added a run-scoring single in the second and Einertson extended the lead with a two-run RBI double in the fourth.

After the Indians staged a three-run fourth, Tim Torres slugged a solo homer in the fifth for the Avalanche. Hart had an RBI base hit in the sixth and Salem sealed the game by adding three runs in the ninth.

Avalanche starter Sergio Perez (1-0) allowed three runs -- one earned -- on six hits and three walks while fanning six over six strong innings. The 22-year-old right-hander went 7-10 with a 4.00 ERA in 25 starts.

James Deters (0-1), who went 12-4 with a 2.24 ERA in 33 games with Kinston, surrendered five runs on eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts over four innings.

Matthew Whitney went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the Indians.