Game 1The Intimidators used a complete game shutout from Zach Lewis (W, 4-5) to take game one of the doubleheader, 3-0, against the Grasshoppers on Tuesday at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health.Lewis seemed almost unhittable on the bump until the fourth inning approached, as Connor Scott singled, moved to
Game 1
The Intimidators used a complete game shutout from Zach Lewis (W, 4-5) to take game one of the doubleheader, 3-0, against the Grasshoppers on Tuesday at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health.
Lewis seemed almost unhittable on the bump until the fourth inning approached, as Connor Scott singled, moved to second on a balk and was followed by a Thomas Jones bunt-single to put runners at first and third for Osiris Johnson.
On an 0-2 pitch, Johnson smoked a ball to Luis Curbelo at shortstop, as Curbelo fielded and fired to Evan Skoug at the plate, nabbing out Scott to keep the game scoreless with one out. After a strikeout to Will Banfield, Skoug picked off Johnson at first base after a pitch to the plate, getting Lewis out of the jam unscathed.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Intimidators used the momentum on defense to get the bats alive, as Carlos Perez smacked his sixteenth double of the season to right-center to lead off the inning. Next up, Justin Yurchak reached on a throwing error by Johnson at shortstop, sending Perez to third with no outs. Up next and with two outs, Ramon Beltre singled on a swinging-bunt down the third base line, scoring Perez who was running on contact, giving the I's a 1-0 lead.
One inning later, Tyler Frost singled on a line drive to right field, followed by a Curbelo flyout to center field, bringing up Steele Walker with one out. On just the second pitch of his at-bat, Walker blasted his first homer of the season over the right field wall, plating Frost as well, extending the lead to three runs, 3-0.
In the seventh, Lewis struck out the side, including a strikeout to Isael Soto on three pitches to end the game, tying the series, 2-to-2.
Game 2
Kannapolis swept the double header with a 5-3 win on Tuesday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health over Greensboro, using two, two-run innings to win the five-game series.
In the first inning, Jake Elliott walked three batters, threw a wild pitch and gave up a double, yet, he did not give up a run thanks to a couple strikeouts and a caught stealing.
In the third, Jones walked and stole two bases to put himself just 90 feet away from scoring the game's first run. One batter later, Jhonny Santos flied out to Walker in center field, scoring Jones to put the 'Hoppers up 1-0.
A half inning later, Beltre and Curbelo both singled to put runners at first and second, as both runners scurried home after a two-run double over right fielder Isael Soto, earning the Intimidators a 2-1 edge.
After another run came across to score for Greensboro in the top of the fourth, Kannapolis used a single from Perez and Michael Hickman to put two runners in scoring position for Ian Dawkins. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Dawkins singled on a line drive into right field, followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat of Beltre to give the Intimidators a 4-2 lead.
One inning later, Craig Dedelow walked, followed by a Tate Blackman single, as Hickman then brought Dedelow into score from second base with a single into center field, increasing the lead to three, 5-2.
Luis Ledo (W, 7-1) and Jose Nin (S, 8) tossed four innings in relief, striking out a combined four batters to keep the I's ahead throughout the rest of the game.
Kannapolis will have Tuesday off before heading to Augusta for a five-game series against the GreenJackets.
