Despite jumping out to an early lead, the Intimidators lost the first game of the four-game series against the Legends, 4-2, dropping their fifth-straight game.On the first pitch of the game, Ian Dawkins cranked his first home run of the season to left-center against Lexington's J.C. Cloney (W, 1-0), giving
Despite jumping out to an early lead, the Intimidators lost the first game of the four-game series against the Legends, 4-2, dropping their fifth-straight game.
On the first pitch of the game, Ian Dawkins cranked his first home run of the season to left-center against Lexington's J.C. Cloney (W, 1-0), giving the I's some much needed momentum at the start of the game. After Dawkin's solo-shot, Luis Curbelo singled on a ground ball up the middle, moving to third two batters later after a Craig Dedelow single to center field. With runners at first and third, Tyler Frost bunted a ball to second base, placing it well enough to the right side of the infield to allow Curbelo to score the second run of the inning for Kannapolis.
After being given a two-run lead before he threw his first pitch, Zach Lewis (L, 2-5) allowed a double and stolen base to Kyle Isbel, as Cristian Perez singled Isbel in on a soft line drive into right field, cutting the lead in half, 2-1. Lewis settled in after the first two batters, striking out the side over the next four batters, picking up three of his five strikeouts of the night.
Two innings later, Nick Pratto doubled and advanced to third one batter later after a Johan Cruz error off the bat of Seuly Matias to put runners at the corners. One batter later, MJ Melendez Jr. doubled on a line drive to center field, scoring both Pratto and Matias to give the Legends a 3-2 advantage. Later in the inning, Marten Gasparini singled on a ground ball up the middle to score Melendez Jr., doubling the lead for Lexington, 4-2.
The Intimidators saw their best chance to score come in the seventh, as Cruz reached on a six-pitch walk, followed by a Michael Hickman single into right field to put two runners on for Ramon Beltre. After a successful sacrifice bunt off the bat of Beltre, Justin Yurchak roped a ball to first baseman, Pratto, keeping both runners in scoring position with two outs. With the top of the lineup back up to the plate, Dawkins walked, leading to a Curbelo strikeout on three pitches to end the threat in the seventh.
Kannapolis will look to get back to their winning ways on Saturday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark at 6:35 p.m. against the Legends.
