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Shorebirds rally in 9th inning
04/09/2012 11:01 PM ET

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (April 9, 2012) -- One day after their own ninth inning comeback, the Kannapolis Intimidators failed to hold a two-run lead in the final inning, falling to the Delmarva Shorebirds, 7-4, at CMC-NorthEast Stadium on Monday night. Delmarva scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning off Bryan Blough to take the first game of a three-game series.

With Kannapolis up 4-2, John Ruettiger led off the ninth with a double, and Jason Esposito reached base on a Joe De Pinto error. After Blough walked Wyston Salem, Brenden Webb's ground-rule double tied the game, 4-4. Gabriel Lino, Nicky Delmonico and Mychal Givens all followed with RBI-singles to put the Shorebirds in front.

Shorebirds closer Williams Louico walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, but the Intimidators were unable to convert.

Kannapolis had built its lead thanks to a Delmarva error in the fifth inning. David Herbek doubled to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Joe De Pinto followed with a ground ball to second base, but Delmarva first baseman Nicky Delmonico dropped the throw to first, allowing Herbek to score, tying the game 1-1. Shorebirds starter Eduardo Rodriguez struck out the next two batters before being lifted for Jake Cowan. Leighton Pangilinan and Rangel Ravelo victimized Cowan for run-scoring hits, pulling the Intimidators in front 3-1.

Collin Kuhn singled in the bottom of the seventh and scored on a passed ball to give the Intimidators a 4-2 lead.

On Sunday, the Intimidators rallied down two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to beat Hickory, 12-11, for the team's first win of the year.

The Intimidators continue the three-game series with the Delmarva Shorebirds at CMC-NorthEast Stadium on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. For ticket information, call the box office at (704) 932-3267 or visit www.IntimidatorsBaseball.com.


This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.