Martinez, Cherry combine to 1-hit Hoppers

GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 9, 2016) - Luis Martinez combined with Taylore Cherry to 1-hit Greensboro in a 1-0 shutout win in 7 innings on Saturday night at NewBridge Bank Park. Kannapolis (10-7 Second Half, 34-53) notched its seventh shutout of the season while snapping the Grasshoppers' 9-game winning streak. 

Martinez struck out seven batters, one shy of his career high, over 5.0 scoreless innings. After walking a batter and allowing a hit in the first inning, Martinez (4-7) became virtually untouchable, retiring 11 straight from the first inning into the fifth on his way to earning the win.

Kannapolis plated the game's only run in the fifth inning. Cody Daily led off with a base hit and advanced to second on a Cody Poteet balk. With two outs and Daily still on second base, Bradley Strong singled up the middle, and Daily raced around third base for home, beating the throw from center fielder Zach Sullivan and sliding under the tag of catcher Roy Morales for a 1-0 lead.

In home half of the fifth, Martinez struck out Isael Soto before Morales reached base on a strikeout-wild pitch, putting the tying run on base. Morales moved to second base on another wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout before Martinez retired Zach Sullivan to end the inning and strand Morales on third. 

Cherry took the mound in the home half of the sixth with a 1-0 lead. Kyle Barrett led off the inning reaching base hit by pitch and used a groundout and a wild pitch to put the tying run on third base with one out. Cherry responded by striking out Aaron Blanton and inducing a Angel Reyes grounder to strand the runner and get Kannapolis out of the inning. In the seventh, Cherry spun a perfect fame to secure his team-leading sixth save. 

Poteet (3-7) took the loss, allowing a run on four hits while striking out six over 6.0 innings. 

Saturday's game was played to seven innings after the Intimidators and Grasshoppers completed Friday's suspended game earlier in the day, a Greensboro 7-4 win. 

The Intimidators wrap up this 4-game series in Greensboro on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. as Kannapolis sends LHP Johnathan Frebis (6-7, 4.59 ERA) to the mound against the Grasshoppers' RHP Chuck Weaver (9-4, 2.37 ERA). The Intimidators return home on Tuesday, July 12, for a 7-game home stand featuring another Cabarrus Brewing Company Craft Beer Sampling Night on Friday, July 15, and post-game fireworks presented by Carolinas HealthCare System on Saturday, July 16. To order tickets while they last, call the F&M Bank Box Office or 704-932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.