BlueClaws score early and often to top I's

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (August 13, 2016) - The Kannapolis Intimidators fell to the Lakewood BlueClaws 6-1 Saturday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System before a crowd of 2,952. Kannapolis (27-22 Second Half, 51-68) mustered only one run and saw their season long winning streak snapped at six games.

Lakewood (27-21 Second Half, 56-61) pressured Intimidators pitching throughout the night outhitting Kannapolis 14-to-4. The BlueClaws put runs on the board in each of the first five innings and managed to get their leadoff man on in seven out of nine innings.

Not to be lost in the BlueClaws offensive showing was the strong start from Alberto Tirado. The righty limited the Intimidators to just one run over his six innings of work while striking out nine and walking none. Tirado (4-1) set down the first seven Intimidators he faced and was just three over the minimum when he departed following the sixth inning.

Grant Dyer followed Tirado with three shutout innings of relief while raking up six strikeouts to earn his first save of the season.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Kannapolis tallied their only run of the night when Antonio Rodriguez and Cody Daily singled off Tirado to begin the inning. Two batters later, Zach Remillard chased home Rodriguez with an RBI ground out.

Lakewood wasted no time in getting to Intimidators starter Jimmy lambert. Following a one out double by Cornelius Randolph, the BlueClaws pushed across the first run of the night on a Wilson Garcia RBI single to left.  

The BlueClaws did not let up after Lambert (0-2) was removed from the game with two out in the third inning. Danny Dopico was touched for three more runs over his 2 1/3 inning outing during his home debut in Kannapolis.

It was not until Dylan Barrow's top of the ninth that the Intimidators recorded their first 1-2-3 inning of the night.

The loss moves the Intimidators back to second place a game and a half behind the BlueClaws.

The Intimidators with wrap up the four-game series and home stand Sunday against the BlueClaws at 5:05 p.m. LHP Johnathan Frebis (8-10, 5.43 ERA) will get the start for Kannapolis against Lakewood's RHP Seranthony Dominguez (2-2, 4.28 ERA). Sundays are Kid's Day at Intimidators Stadium with a pregame autograph party and postgame kids run the bases presented by Cornerstone Church. For tickets and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office or 704-932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.