Leyer earns second straight win

Rose ejected arguing play at the plate in fifth inning

By Josh Feldman

May 5, 2014

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (May 5, 2014) - Robinson Leyer spun 5.0 strong innings to lead the Kannapolis Intimidators past the Hickory Crawdads, 5-2, on Monday night at CMC-NorthEast Stadium. Kannapolis (16-15) split the 4-game series against the in-state rival by taking the last two games of the series.

Leyer (2-2) opened with four scoreless innings before giving up a pair of unearned runs in the fifth on his way to a second straight win. The right-hander struck out seven batters, walking one. After starting the season with consecutive losses, Leyer is now 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20 IP) over his last four starts.
Adam Engel put the Intimidators on the board in the second inning with a two-out, two-run single to left field for an early 2-0 lead. Kannapolis chased Hickory starter Collin Wiles from the game in the third inning, as Carl Thomore and Omar Narvaez added RBI-outs to extended the Intimidators lead to 4-0.

In the top of the fifth, Hickory added a pair of runs in the fifth inning, the first coming on a close play at the plate. After Isiah Kiner-Falefa reached base on an error, Nick Urbanus doubled to left field to drive Kiner-Falefa around the bases. Kiner-Falefa was ruled safe at the plate after a relay throw from Cleuluis Rondon ostensibly arrived to the glove of the catcher Narvaez in time to apply the tag. Home plate umpire Brad Polk, who ruled that Narvaez had illegally blocked the plate, ejected Kannapolis manager Pete Rose Jr. for arguing the call.

Engel added an RBI in the sixth inning, finishing the night 2-for-5 with 3 RBI. Jacob Morris and Trey Michalczewski also added multi-hit games for Kannapolis.

Kannapolis relievers Andre Wheeler and Matt Abramson evenly split the final 4.0 innings. Abramson struck out four batters on his way to his third save in three opportunities.

Collin Wiles took the loss for Hickory, giving up four runs on six hits over 2.0 innings.
The Intimidators are off on Tuesday before opening a 3-day series in Lakewood, N.J., against the BlueClaws on Wednesday. The team returns to Kannapolis on May 14 to open a 7-game home stand against Delmarva and Hickory. For ticket information, call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.