Despite out-hitting Greensboro Thursday night at First National Bank Field, the Intimidators dropped game four of the series against the Grasshoppers 5-2, while also issuing six walks and committing three errors.The troubles started for Kannapolis in the first when RHP Zach Lewis (L, 0-1) walked the first two batters on
Despite out-hitting Greensboro Thursday night at First National Bank Field, the Intimidators dropped game four of the series against the Grasshoppers 5-2, while also issuing six walks and committing three errors.
The troubles started for Kannapolis in the first when RHP Zach Lewis (L, 0-1) walked the first two batters on a combined nine pitches, leading to a sacrifice bunt that brought in a run after a throwing error from Lewis. After a stolen base for Jhonny Santos, Lewis got Lazaro Alonso to hit a groundball back to him, starting a lengthy 1-3-2-5-4 double play that allowed Jose Devers to score the second run of the inning.
The Intimidators responded in the top of the second with a couple runs of their own, as Anthony Villa drew a five-pitch walk from RHP Brandon Miller (W, 1-3), followed by a throwing error from Miller that allowed Justin Yurchak to reach. With runners at first and second, Luis Carbelo singled in his first at-bat with the Intimidators, as Nolan Brown came through with a line drive single to center field one batter later, scoring Villa and Yurchak to tie the game.
In the third, Cameron Baranek reached on a walk, stole second, and then tagged up on a fly ball to center off the bat of Devers, bringing up the hot-hitting Santos. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Santos grounded out to Johan Cruz at short, allowing Baranek to come in and score the lead run, 3-2.
After a couple 1-2-3 innings for both teams and a pitching change for the I's that saw Luis Ledo take the mound, Kannapolis had their chance to score in the fifth after a Luis Gonzalez double and Cruz single to put two runners in scoring position but failed to capitalize with only one out.
In the seventh, Greensboro (20-23) tacked on a couple more runs thanks to a Garvis Lara solo-shot to right-center field and an Alonso single to left field, sealing the Hoppers' 5-2 victory.
After splitting the four-game series with Greensboro, the Intimidators (29-16) will continue traveling north to take on the West Virginia Power for a four-game series starting Friday at 7:05 p.m.
