Greenville, SC - The Kannapolis Intimidators offense piled on runs early and never looked back as they defeated the Greenville Drive 10-2 in Wednesday's series opener at Fluor Field.
Greenville, SC - The Kannapolis Intimidators offense piled on runs early and never looked back as they defeated the Greenville Drive 10-2 in Wednesday's series opener at Fluor Field.
The Drive (8-24) took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Victor Acosta in the bottom of the first, but the Intimidators (21-11) took advantage of Angel Padron's (1-2) control struggles in the second, as they scored five runs after a double, five consecutive walks, and a two-run single by Laz Rivera.
Jagger Rusconi singled and scored on a wild pitch for Greenville in the bottom of the second, but the Intimidators scored three times in the next half. A wild pitch plated the first run, and that was followed by a two-run single from Nolan Brown to extend the lead.
A Drive error and a Johan Cruz RBI single plated the final two Kannapolis runs in the top of the fourth.
Following the fourth inning, Marcos Lantigua and Devon Fisher combined to keep the Intimidators off the board over the final five innings.
Acosta, Lorenzo Cedrola and Isaias Lucena notched two hits apiece for Greenville. The Intimidators offense was led by three-hit nights from Rivera and Evan Skoug, while Brown, Cruz and Justin Yurchak chipped in with two hits each.
Game two of the series will begin at 7:05 PM on Thursday at Fluor Field, and a strong pitching matchup is scheduled, as Drive right-hander Kutter Crawford (0-1, 1.80) will be opposed by Intimidators right-hander Blake Battenfield (2-1, 1.75).
~Greenville Drive~
