HICKORY, N.C. (July 6, 2017) - Micker Adolfo hit his second home run in as many days to launch the Intimidators past the Crawdads in a 7-5 win on Thursday at L.P. Frans Stadium. Kannapolis (5-10 Second Half, 44-39) snapped its 9-game losing streak, the team's longest since 2013, and
HICKORY, N.C. (July 6, 2017) - Micker Adolfo hit his second home run in as many days to launch the Intimidators past the Crawdads in a 7-5 win on Thursday at L.P. Frans Stadium. Kannapolis (5-10 Second Half, 44-39) snapped its 9-game losing streak, the team's longest since 2013, and avoided a series sweep.
Trailing 2-0 with two on and two outs in the top of the sixth, Adolfo clubbed a 3-run home run (12) to leapfrog the Intimidators over the Crawdads into the lead, 3-2. In the seventh, Kannapolis added four runs to build a 7-2 lead. Zach Remillard led off the seventh with a home run (4), and Mitch Roman added a 2-run single as part of the big inning.
Luis Martinez (3-0) earned his third win against Hickory this season, working 5.0 innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking one. After relievers Danny Dopico and Kevin Escorcia combined to allow three runs over 2 and 2/3 innings, the Intimidators turned to Matt Foster for the final four outs. Foster struck out three over 1 and 1/3 innings for the save (3).
Hickory plated the game's first run in the bottom of the third inning. Chuck Leblanc led off with a double to the right-center field gap and moved to second base on a Blaine Prescott groundout. Eric Jenkins drove in Leblanc on an RBI-single to right field against a drawn-in infield.
In the home half of the sixth, Hickory added another run. Anderson Tejeda led off the bottom of the sixth with a base hit and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Elio Castillo followed with a single to put men on the corners with no outs, and Tejeda scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.
Crawdads starter Reid Anderson kept the Intimidators off balance after allowing a pair of hits to two of the first three batters he faced. The right-hander settled down to retire 14 straight batters, including the final two outs of the first inning, through the first two outs of the sixth. Anderson (1-5) suffered the loss despite opening with five scoreless frames. He allowed three runs on four hits over 5 and 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking one. Nick Dignacco gave up four runs in an inning of relief as Kannapolis padded its lead.
The win is the Intimidators' first since June 26. Kannapolis hadn't lost nine in a row since April 25-May 6, 2013.
The Intimidators return to Kannapolis on Friday to open a 4-game home stand against the Hagerstown Suns. Friday's game features a Craft Beer Sampling where fans can purchase a reserved seat ticket, craft beer tasting, and souvenir Intimidators mug all for only $20. Gates open Friday at 6:00 p.m. with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. Saturday's game features post-game fireworks presented by Carolinas HealthCare System plus a bobble head giveaway to the first 1,000 fans. Tickets are available by calling the F&M Bank Box Office at 704-932-3267 or by visiting IntimidatorsBaseball.com.
