Despite being down by five runs in the second inning and committing four errors in the first two innings, the Intimidators scored nine runs in the middle innings to win the first game of the series with the Suns, 10-7, Saturday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health. The
Despite being down by five runs in the second inning and committing four errors in the first two innings, the Intimidators scored nine runs in the middle innings to win the first game of the series with the Suns, 10-7, Saturday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health.
The Suns got to work in a hurry against LHP Parker Rigler, as Yasel Antuna led off the first with a double into right field, followed by a lineout to first base off the bat of Cole Freeman for the first out. One batter later, Gage Canning doubled into right field, followed by a Jake Scudder double into right, giving the Suns a 2-0 lead. After a flyout off the bat of Omar Meregildo for the second out of the inning, Nick Choruby singled in Scudder for Hagerstown's third run against Rigler.
In the second, Juan Pascal reached on an error after Luis Curbelo's wild throw to first base, followed by a Pascal stolen base with Armond Upshaw at the plate. Three pitches into his at-bat, Upshaw grounded out to third base, as Anthony Villa charged, fielded and fired to first base to get the first out of the inning, as Pascal advanced to third on the play.
Next up and with the infield in, Antuna smacked a grounder to Tate Blackman at second base, as the ball banged off Blackman, skipped to Luis Curbelo at shortstop, followed by a wild throw to first base. Despite the error and wild throw, Pascal did not come in to score from third base. With runners now at first and second, Rigler threw a wild pick-off attempt to first base by Michael Hickman at first, allowing Pascal to score. But, after grabbing the ball in shallow right field off the wall, Hickman then threw the ball into left field and over third base, allowing Antuna to reach third. Then, Cole Freeman doubled on a line drive to left field, scoring Antuna for a 5-0 Hagerstown lead.
After the wild top-half of the inning, Justin Yurchak used a groundout to first base to score Tyler Frost, who reached on a double earlier in the second inning, cutting the lead to four, 5-1.
In the fourth, Carlos Perez reached base on a single into center field, one of his three hits of the night, advancing to second moments later after a balk from RHP Malvin Pena. A couple pitches later, Perez scooted to third after a passed ball by catcher Alejandro Flores, scoring the second run for the I's a pitch later after Yurchak singled to right field.
After J.J. Muno reached on a fielder's choice and stole his third base of the season, Nolan Brown singled in Muno with a sharp groundball up the middle, bringing Kannapolis within two runs, 5-3.
With two runs scoring in the top of the fifth inning on two doubles and a single, increasing the Hagerstown lead to four runs, 7-3, Blackman responded for the I's with a solo-shot (11) to lead off the bottom-half of the inning. After a Villa walk, frost single, and a wild pitch from Jared Johnson (L, 0-1), Perez brought in Villa on a single to center, while sending Frost to third base with one out. Next up, Yurchak grounded out but allowed Frost to score the sixth run of the ball game for Kannapolis, pulling the home team within one run, trailing 7-6.
In the sixth, Muno and Brown both walked to begin the inning, scurrying to third a couple pitches into Curbelo's at-bat after a wild pitch. One batter later, Blackman singled on a groundball through the left side of the infield, scoring both Muno and Brown. After a pitching change for Hagerstown, Villa doubled and Frost singled for the Intimidators, capping off a four-run sixth for Kannapolis, now up 10-7.
Luis Ledo (W, 5-1), despite walking three batters, picked up the win after pitching 2.0 innings of no-hit ball, backed by a strong two innings for Andrew Perez (S, 1) in the eighth and ninth, picking up four strikeouts.
The Intimidators will host the Hagerstown Suns for the second game of the four-game series Sunday at 5:05 p.m. RHP Brigham Hill (0-3, 4.93 ERA) will get the nod for Hagerstown as manager Justin Jirschele will hand the ball over to RHP Yosmer Solorzano (1-5, 4.85 ERA).
