KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Losers of six straight games, Kannapolis used a five-run sixth inning to end the losing skid, topping the Suns 6-4 on a cold Saturday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health.After chasing Suns' starting pitcher, Joan Adon, out of the game in the sixth, Gunnar Troutwine
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Losers of six straight games, Kannapolis used a five-run sixth inning to end the losing skid, topping the Suns 6-4 on a cold Saturday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health.
After chasing Suns' starting pitcher, Joan Adon, out of the game in the sixth, Gunnar Troutwine used a five-pitch walk to reach, moving up one pitch later after a wild pitch from Ryan Tapani. Following a fly out to right field off the bat of Evan Skoug, sending Troutwine to third, Amado Nunez cut the lead in half with a ground ball single up the middle, scoring Troutwine.
With Luis Curbelo reaching on an infield single to shortstop, putting runners at first and third, Tapani tossed another wild pitch, allowing Nunez to score to cut the deficit to one, 4-3. Next up, Logan Sowers hit a sharp line drive over the shortstop's head, bringing in Curbelo to tie the game, 4-4.
After a mound visit and seven-pitch walk to Ian Dawkins, Ramon Beltre doubled on a line drive to center on the first pitch of his at-bat, capping off the Intimidators' five-run sixth, giving Kannapolis a 6-4 lead.
In the second frame, the Suns scored three runs off Kade McClure (W, 1-1) thanks to three singles, a double and an error. McClure scattered five hits over 6.0 innings of work for Kannapolis, striking out only one batter, while issuing two walks. In the third, the Suns used a walk and stolen base from Jacob Rhinesmith to set up their fourth run of the ballgame, as Gilbert Lara doubled (3) on a line drive to score Rhinesmith.
In the fourth, Alex Destino increased his hit-streak to eight with a base knock, as Destino scored on a wild pitch for Kannapolis' first run of the game a few batters later.
Vince Arobio (H, 1) got the hold for Intimidators' manager Ryan Newman, striking out three batters over 2.0 innings of work on the bump in the seventh and eighth innings. In the ninth, Austin Conway (S, 1) collected his first save as an Intimidator, striking out two batters to seal the deal for Kannapolis.
The Intimidators will enjoy a seven-game road trip, including two off days, with the first of two coming on Easter Sunday before the team heads down to Charleston to take on the Riverdogs Monday night.
