Two Three-run Innings Lead Kannapolis to Win Over Charleston

CHARLESTON, S.C - The Intimidators collected their second straight win with a 7-1 victory Monday night in Charleston, using a hot start in the first and a three-run seventh inning to edge the Riverdogs on the road.
With Luis Basabe getting his first at-bat of the season with the Intimidators, thanks to a minor setback in Arizona at the White Sox's spring training, Chicago's 7^th overall prospect reached on a force out to first base. After a Steele Walker single, sending Basabe to second base, Gary Sánchez, who is on a rehab start for the New York Yankees, committed a pass ball to put both runners in scoring position.
With two outs and on a 1-0 pitch, Gunnar Troutwine smacked his first homer of the season over the left field wall on a line, giving the Intimidators and Jonathan Stiever (W, 1-2) a three-run advantage.
Ramon Beltre continued his hot-hitting at the plate with a double to left field in second with two outs, as Ian Dawkins singled in Beltre with a line drive to right field, putting Kannapolis up four.
Despite giving up a solo home run to Eric Wagaman after a seven-pitch at bat in the bottom of the second, Stiever settled in, sitting down the next eight Charleston batters. Stiever finished the night with five strikeouts, scattering five hits through 6.0 innings.
With zeroes across the board from the third until the sixth inning, the Intimidators used some two-out magic to get three runs across in the seventh. Troutwine started the two-out party with a single into center, followed by two six-pitch walks to Bryce Bush and Amado Nunez to load the bases for Luis Curbelo.
The Puerto Rican infielder took a 1-1 pitch and drove it to center field, increasing the Intimidators lead to six, 7-1. With Basabe being one of two top prospects getting the move to Kannapolis on Monday, RHP Zack Burdi did his part in his Intimidators' debut, striking out all three batters he faced on 18 pitches.
Andrew Perez got the call out of the bullpen after Burdi, as the former USF closer followed Burdi's three-strikeout performance with one of his own, closing the door on Charleston in Kannapolis' 7-1 win.
The Intimidators will send LHP Taylor Varnell to the mound Tuesday night against Charleston's RHP Roansy Contreras. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. in Charleston, S.C.