06/08/2007

Debut a hit for Kings rookie

TC threatens in ninth, but rally comes up short

FROM STAFF REPORTS

KALAMAZOO — Welcome to the Frontier League, Robert Moron.

Moron (pronounced Mo-ran) delivered a two-run, go-ahead single in his first at-bat after joining the Kalamazoo Kings, and the Kings held on for a 7-6 baseball victory over the Traverse City Beach Bums on Thursday night at Homer Stryker Field.

The Bums (5-10) loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth against Kalamazoo closer John Sullivan, but Lance Koenig lined out to left to end the game.

Koenig paced the Bums with a double, two walks, three stolen bases and three runs scored.

Traverse City let a 5-0 lead slip away.

The Bums erupted for five runs in the top of the second inning and one in the third, only to see Kalamazoo answer with four runs in the bottom half.

The Bums took advantage of control problems by Kings' starter Mark Kelly, who walked Koenig and J.T. Thomas to open the second. After Jeff Brown's sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, R.C. Dickerson's infield single scored Koenig, then Jeff Kalter singled to center to score Thomas.

Following a walk to Justin Holmes, Jeff Vincent made it 4-0 with a two-run single up the middle.

TC added another run in the third when Koenig led off with a double, moved to third on a ground out and scored on an error.

Kalamazoo (8-7) cut the lead to 5-4 in the third, then surged ahead in the sixth on Moran's pinch hit, two-run single off reliever Dan Hawkins (0-2) after Hawkins came on for starter Buddy Klovstad.

The Bums pulled to within 7-6 in the eighth when Koenig led off with a walk, stole second and third and scored on a ground out by Brown.