Intimidators edge Hoppers in 15 innings

GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 23, 2015) - The Intimidators strung together a pair of two-out RBI-singles in the top of the 15th inning to edge the Grasshoppers, 7-5, on Thursday at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro. Kannapolis (15-12 Second Half, 50-46) secured its seventh consecutive road series win and will play for a sweep in Friday's finale.=

With the game tied 5-5 since the eighth inning, Mason Robbins singled to right field with one out in the top of the 15th. Two batters later, Alexander Simon drove a two-out base hit up the middle to score Robbins. Simon stole second base, and Brett Austin added his own RBI-single for a 7-5 lead.  

Brad Salgado worked around two hits in the bottom of the 15th for the save (4), preserving the win for Jacob Morris (4-2), who matched his career-high with 3.0 scoreless, hitless innings of work. Ryan Hafner (0-2) suffered the loss for Greensboro.  

The game was the longest for Kannapolis this season, lasting four hours and 39 minutes, the team's longest game since a 15-inning marathon on July 12, 2014, against Asheville that lasted five hours, 11 minutes. 

Alexander Simon opened the scoring with a two-run home run (2) in the top of the first for an early 2-0 lead for Kannapolis.

Greensboro used back-to-back home runs to overtake Kannapolis in the bottom of the third. With two on and one out, Arturo Rodriguez smashed a three-run home run (9) to left field, and K.J. Woods followed with a solo blast (11) to right field.  

John Ziznewski tied the game in the top of the sixth with his second professional home run (2), a two-run blast to right field that pulled Kannapolis even with Greensboro, 4-4.  

Simon broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh, following a Louie Lechich two-out double with a base hit to left field, scoring Lechich for a 5-4 lead. Greensboro responded in the bottom of the eighth when Woods' second home run of the night tied the game, 5-5.

Kannapolis starting pitcher Yency Almonte struck out a career-high seven batters over 6.0 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with no walks in a no decision. David Trexler tossed 3.0 scoreless relief innings for Kannapolis.  

Ben Holmes, the Greensboro starter, struck out eight batters, one shy of his career high, while walking one and allowing three runs on five hits in a no decision.  

The Intimidators wrap up this three-game series on Friday at 7 p.m. as RHP Zach Thompson (3-4, 3.62 ERA) takes the mound for Kannapolis against Greensboro's RHP Jorgan Cavanerio (1-4, 4.61 ERA). Kannapolis returns to Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System on Thursday, July 30. For ticket and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.