Three Hickory home runs haunt Kannapolis

Intimidators held to season-low-tying four hits in shutout loss

By Josh Feldman

April 26, 2015

HICKORY, N.C. (April 26, 2015) - Hickory used a trio of home runs to pull away from Kannapolis for a 5-0 Crawdads win on Sunday at L.P. Frans Stadium. The Intimidators were held to a season-low-equalling four hits while being shut out for the first time since Aug. 1, 2014, at home against Augusta.

The Crawdads, now a league-best 13-4 on the season, took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Kevin Torres hit a solo home run (1) down the right-field line off Kannapolis starter Luis Martinez.

Hickory added to its lead with a pair of sixth inning home runs off reliever Yency Almonte. Jose Trevino launched a 2-run shot, his South Atlantic League-leading sixth of the season, down the right-field line for a 3-0 lead, and Luke Tendler followed with a solo home run (5) to left field.

Hickory starting pitcher Colin Wiles opened with five scoreless innings, including perfect frames in the third, fourth, and fifth. Wiles (3-0), a supplemental first round pick by the Rangers in the June 2012 First-Year Player draft, needed just four pitches in the top of the fourth inning on his way to securing his third straight win to open the season.

Reliever Adam Parks picked up where Wiles left off, as 16 straight Intimidators were retired from the second through seventh innings. Parks tossed 3.0 scoreless frames, limiting Kannapolis to one hit while striking out five. Jefri Hernandez spun a perfect ninth for the 'Dads.

Martinez (0-2) took the loss for Kannapolis (7-10), giving up a run on three hits over 5.0 innings while striking out four batters. Almonte struck out five batters over 3.0 innings but gave up four runs, including back-to-back home runs, in his first relief appearance of the year.

The Intimidators are off Monday and return home to CMC-NorthEast Stadium for a 7-game home stand against the Greenville Drive (Red Sox) and Rome Braves (Atlanta Braves) starting Tuesday. For tickets and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.