Game 1 (continuation of suspended game)Although Mother Nature spread out game two of the series over two days, the Intimidators used strong pitching performances from four different arms to blank the Grasshoppers, 1-0. Parker Rigler and Colton Hock saw both of their starts cut short due to weather in Kannapolis,
Game 1 (continuation of suspended game)
Although Mother Nature spread out game two of the series over two days, the Intimidators used strong pitching performances from four different arms to blank the Grasshoppers, 1-0.
Parker Rigler and Colton Hock saw both of their starts cut short due to weather in Kannapolis, NC, Sunday night, as Rigler struck out three batters and induced two double plays while keeping the score 0-0 after three innings.
With the game resuming on Monday in the fourth inning, Kevin Escorcia (W, 2-2) struck out the first two Greensboro batters he faced, taking the game into the bottom of the fourth with the top of the lineup due up. Leadoff hitter Tyler Frost saw two strikes to begin his at-bat with Brandon Miller (L, 3-9) to begin the frame, followed by four straight balls to walk the team-leader in stolen bases. During Luis Curbelo's at-bat, Frost collected his sixth stolen base of the season, putting himself into scoring position for Curbelo.
On the sixth pitch of his at-bat, Curbelo singled on a line drive into right field, putting runners at the corners for Steele Walker. After fouling off the first pitch and watching two out of the zone, Walker hit a sacrifice fly into left field, proving deep enough to score Frost for the game's first and only run.
Manager Justin Jirschele leaned on Escorcia for three innings, as the southpaw from Colombia struck out six batters, as Will Kincanon (H, 3) and Jose Nin (S, 7) collected six combined strikeouts through the last 3.0 innings to help preserve the 1-0 win.
Game 2
In another pitcher's duel on Monday, the 'Hoppers and Sean Guenther (W, 3-3) proved to be the stronger team, as Guenther struck out seven Kannapolis batters, giving up only two hits in a complete game showing for the southpaw, taking game three 2-0.
Greensboro's first-round draft pick, Connor Scott, jumped on just the second pitch of the game against Spencer Moran (L, 1-3), cranking it over the right field wall for his first homer with the Grasshoppers.
After working a 1-2-3 inning in the second, including two strikeouts, Samuel Castro led off the third inning against Moran with a single through the left side. After a stolen base and a flyout that sent Castro to third base, Scott flied out to left field, proving deep enough to score Castro for the 'Hoppers second run, up 2-0.
Although Moran allowed two early runs, thanks to Scott, Moran pieced together one of his best outings through five starts with Kannapolis, striking out seven batters, allowing on two hits through six innings.
The Intimidators bats were never able to get going against Guenther, as Johan Cruz and Curbelo were the only two Kannapolis batters to earn hits.
