Needing a win to clinch the first half championship, the Intimidators failed to capitalize with a couple promising opportunities with runners on base, losing 4-1 Saturday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health, setting up a "Win and You're in" scenario for Sunday.Fast forward to the bottom of the
Needing a win to clinch the first half championship, the Intimidators failed to capitalize with a couple promising opportunities with runners on base, losing 4-1 Saturday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health, setting up a "Win and You're in" scenario for Sunday.
Fast forward to the bottom of the sixth inning as Luis González, Luis Robert and Laz Rivera all reached on singles to create a bases loaded situation for the middle of the lineup against Ryan Lillie (W, 6-1). On a 1-0 pitch, Craig Dedelow smacked a soft fly ball into shallow left field for the first out, not deep enough for Gonzalez to score from third. Next up, Tate Blackman worked the count full, but Lillie squeezed a 95-mph fastball by the Kannapolis five-hole hitter, bringing up Anthony Villa with two outs. Up in the count 2-0, Villa grounded out to first baseman Micah Brown to end the Intimidators' best threat of the game.
In the top of the fifth, Jose Devers whacked the first pitch from Yosmer Solorzano (L, 1-3) down the right field line, as Gonzalez and Blackman worked together for a perfect tandem set up for third base. With the throw beating Devers by a good step or two, third baseman Luis Curbelo dropped the ball at third base, allowing Devers to speed home for a little league inside the park home run.
In the sixth, the Grasshoppers put up one more run to take a 3-1 lead, as Aron McRee allowed two singles to Cameron Baranek and Will Allen, giving Greensboro a two-run cushion. The 'Hoppers added on an insurance run in the ninth inning off Jake Elliott, as the Intimidators left two runners stranded in the bottom of the ninth inning with no outs to end the ball game.
Sunday's game at Intimidators Stadium will be played at 5:05 p.m. Father's will get the chance to take batting practice on the field before the game for a Father's Day special, as RHP Lincoln Henzman (6-3, 2.30 ERA) will face off with Greensboro's LHP Trevor Rogers (0-2, 8.78 ERA). If the Intimidators win, they are in. If they lose, they will need the help of a Lakewood BlueClaws loss to clinch the first half championship. Lakewood plays at 1:05 p.m. against the Hickory Crawdads in Lakewood.
