Michalczewski's first slam slays Greensboro

GREENSBORO, Md. (July 7, 2014) -Trey Michalczewski blasted his first career grand slam and drove in a career-high 5 RBI to lead the Kannapolis Intimidators to a 12-8 win over the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Monday at NewBridge Bank Park. Kannapolis (42-44, 13-6 Second Half) hit three home runs in the game and scored 10 runs from the fifth through seventh innings to pull away.  

Trailing 6-5, Michalczewki's slam pulled Kannapolis back in front with no outs in the top of the sixth. The 19-year-old third baseman followed three straight walks issued by Greensboro reliever Miguel Del Pozo with his team-leading ninth blast of the season and his first career slam. Michalczewski finished the game 3-5 with 5 RBI and 2 runs scored.

Ryan Leonards and Adam Engel added home runs in the seventh inning, extending the Intimidators lead to 12-6.  

Brad Salgado took over on the mound with two outs in the fifth inning and retired 10 of the 11 batters he faced, including the first seven, over 3 and 1/3 scoreless relief innings. Salgado (1-0) earned the win.  

Hoppers reliever Miguel Del Pozo (1-5), who gave up the slam to Michalczewski during his 1.0 relief inning, took the loss.

Kannapolis struck first in the first inning. With runners on first and second, Trey Michalczewski grounded to first base, where Felix Munoz fielded and fired to second base for one out. The slide of Christian Stringer took out the shortstop and jarred the ball free, allowing Adam Engel to round third base and dash to the plate for a 1-0 lead.

Greensboro jumped in front with a 4-run second inning. Greensboro loaded the bases against Thad Lowry, who walked Rehiner Cordova to push the tying run across. Yefri Perez followed with a 2-run base hit, and J.T. Riddle drove in a run on a groundout for a 4-1 lead.

The Intimidators got a run back in the second inning when Christian Stringer doubled with two outs, and Trey Michalczewski followed with an RBI-single, his team-leading 54th RBI of the season.

In the fifth inning, Kannapolis pulled back in front and chased Greensboro starter Domingo German from the game. Danny Hayes followed a Michaclzewski base hit with a double to the gap in left-center field, scoring Michalczewski from first. Jacob Morris singled to drive in Hayes, tying the game, and Carl Thomore added a go-ahead double, plating Morris for a 5-4 lead.

Greensboro reclaimed the two in the bottom of the fifth when Lowry issued walks to the first two batters, who each came around to score. Kentrell Dewitt's RBI-single put the Hoppers back in front, 6-5, and ended Lowry's night after 4 and 2/3 innings. Lowry took no decision, allowing six runs on seven hits while walking a career-high six batters, the most by an Intimidator this season.

Hoppers starter Domingo German lasted 4 and 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out seven and walking two.

The Intimidators continue this 3-game series in Greensboro on Tuesday against the Grasshoppers. First pitch at NewBridge Bank Park is at 7:00 p.m. The team returns home to CMC-NorthEast Stadium on Thursday, July 10, for a 4-game series against the Asheville Tourists. For ticket and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.