Kannapolis Holds Off Greenville, 5-4, on Tuesday

GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Kannapolis Intimidators held a 5-2 lead over the Greenville Drive after seven innings before holding on for the 5-4 victory on Tuesday night at Fluor Field.
Kannapolis (27-36) opened the scoring with two runs in the second. Back-to-back RBI singles by Ramon Beltre and Ian Dawkins gave the road team a 2-0 lead.
Greenville (29-36) tied it with two runs in the fourth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Cole Brannen singled to center to score two, tying the game at 2-2.

The Intimidators retook the lead with two runs in the fifth. Corey Zangari drew a two-out walk and Luis Curbelo followed with a two-run homer to right, his fifth of the season, to make it a 4-2 game.
Kannapolis added one more in the seventh. Alex Destino doubled to left center and two batters later Zangari doubled to score him and push the advantage to 5-2.
The Drive scored two in the eighth to cut the lead to just one. Jordan Wren led off the inning with a single and Kole Cottam followed with a two-run home run to left center cut trim the lead to 5-4.
Johan Dominguez (3-3) earned the win for Kannapolis, allowing two runs on three hits in 5.0 innings pitched with six strikeouts against six walks. Drive reliever Yoan Aybar (1-3) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on one hit and a walk with one strikeout. J.B. Olson recorded his first save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Cottam led the Drive offense on the night, going 2-for-3 with a double, homer, two runs and two RBI. Brandon Howlett added a 2-for-3 night with a run, while Brannen contributed a single and two RBI.
Drive starter Thaddeus Ward allowed two runs on five hits in 4.0 innings pitched with seven strikeouts against four walks.
The series wraps up on Wednesday with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Chase Shugart takes the bump for the Drive, facing off against right-hander Davis Martin for Kannapolis.