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Kannapolis wins series with 4-1 victory Sunday afternoon in Rome

June 10, 2018

The Kannapolis Intimidators (37-23) used four runs in the first three innings against the Rome Braves (37-25) Sunday afternoon to win 4-1, taking the first of two series played between the two teams. Luis González and Laz Rivera rattled off back-to-back singles to begin the opening frame for the Intimidators,

The Kannapolis Intimidators (37-23) used four runs in the first three innings against the Rome Braves (37-25) Sunday afternoon to win 4-1, taking the first of two series played between the two teams.
Luis González and Laz Rivera rattled off back-to-back singles to begin the opening frame for the Intimidators, as a Craig Dedelow flyout into right field moved Gonzalez 90 feet up to third base with one out. On a 2-1 pitch, Tate Blackman smacked a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Gonzalez.
One inning later, Tyler Frost reached base on a five-pitch walk, stealing second base with Johan Cruz at the plate to put a runner in scoring position. After a seven-pitch at-bat for Dominican Republic native, Cruz wacked his first homer of the season to left field, giving Kannapolis a 3-0 lead.
Deciding to do all their scoring in the first three innings, the Intimidators used a Laz Rivera triple and a Dedelow walk to start the fourth inning, as Rivera scored after Blackman grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
LHP Parker Rigler dealt for manager Justin Jirschele and the Intimidators Sunday afternoon, capping off his gem with a three-strikeout sixth inning. The former Kansas State southpaw finished with four strikeouts over 6.0 innings, refusing to give up a run against the Southern division's top team. Tyler Johnson closed the door on the Braves and earned his seventh win of the season, striking out two batters in the ninth.
Kannapolis will return home to Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health for a nine-game home stand in six days against the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Greensboro Grasshoppers.