Big Third Inning Helps Lift Lakewood Over Kannapolis

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Kannapolis Intimidators (14-15, 42-55) continued their series with the Lakewood BlueClaws (10-17, 38-58) looking for their second straight win, but couldn't overcome a big third inning from Lakewood and fell 9-6 Friday night.
Through two innings, the game looked like it was going to be a pitcher's duel, but that quickly changed in the third inning.
In the top half of that frame, Lakewood managed to put up a five-spot in the inning. The BlueClaws batted around, tallying five hits, and capping off the big inning with a single from Carlos De La Cruz that brought in McCarthy Tatum and Abrahan Gutierrez to make things 5-0.
Kannapolis wouldn't go away lightly. In the bottom of the third, Michael Hickman led the inning off with a walk and was eventually driven in after a Johan Cruz double to get on the board, 5-1. Andrew Vaughn followed that up with a ground out that brought in Camilo Quinteiro. The next batter, Alex Destino, hit what looked to be a routine groundout, but Lakewood made a throwing error and allowed Cruz to come around to score and cut the deficit to 5-3.
A couple innings later, the BlueClaws added to their lead. With one out in the top of the fifth, McCarthy Tatum hit his second home run of the season with a solo shot to left field to make the lead 6-3.
After getting two more outs in the inning came the end of Kevin Folman's (L, 0-2) day. On 85 pitches, he threw 53 strikes, allowed six hits, six earned, struck out two, and walked one. Devon Perez relieved Folman on the mound.
On the very first pitch that Perez threw to begin the top of the sixth, De La Cruz launched a solo homer (5) to left center to extend the Lakewood lead to 7-3.
Despite the rough start, Perez settled in well and ended up going 2.0 innings, giving up two hits, just the one run, while striking out three. Lane Ramsey finished the game out for the Intimidators on the hill.
In the bottom of the seventh, Kannapolis looked to have a little life in them. Ian Dawkins scored after Andrew Vaughn grounded into a double play to get their fourth run across. Later in the inning the Intimidators had two on with two outs but couldn't get any more runs across.
An early error in the top of the ninth opened the door for Lakewood to tack on a couple insurance runs. With runners on second and third, Tatum singled up the middle to drive both runners in and take the 9-4 lead.
The Intimidators did manage to score two in the bottom of the ninth. Alex Destino drove in Johan Cruz (who just had his second straight three-hit day) on a ground out, and Romy Gonzalez followed that up with an RBI single up the middle to make things 9-6, but that would be all they'd manage before the final out.
Kannapolis will continue their series with Lakewood Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Sam Long (4-3, 4.26 ERA) will take the mound for the Intimidators against Lakewood's Ethan Lindow (5-2, 2.56 ERA).