Kannapolis Beats Lakewood 9-2 on Thursday Night

LAKEWOOD, NJ - Kannapolis pouned out nine runs on 14 hits in topping the BlueClaws 9-2 on Thursday night at FirstEnergy Park. Omar Narvaez drove in three while Trey Michalczewski and Carl Thomore each drove in two for the Intimidators, who have taken the first two games in the series. 

The BlueClaws (12-20) have now lost three straight since a 5-1 start to their last road trip while Kannapolis (18-15) has won three straight games. 

The Intimidators scored a run in the second on an RBI single by Tyler Williams and another in the third on SAC fly by Thomore to take a 2-0 lead. 

The BlueClaws tied the game with two runs in the third inning with Carlos Tocci driving in a run on a groundout and Willians Astudillo driving in another on an RBI single. 

Kannapolis took the lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings off Lakewood starter Ranfi Casimiro (1-4). Casimiro allowed four runs/three earned in 4.2 innings of work. 

Kannapolis blew the game open with three runs in the seventh inning off Shane Martin and added two in the eighth off Keivi Rojas. 

Lakewood shortstop JP Crawford doubled in the third inning to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. With his RBI double, Willians Astudillo has now hit safely in 22 of his 25 games and leads the team with 20 RBIs. 

The series concludes on Friday night at 7:05. Lakewood RHP Tyler Viza (2-2, 3.71) opposes Kannapolis RHP James Dykstra (2-3, 3.60). 

- BlueClaws -