BlueClaws pull ahead with wild pitch offense

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (July 18, 2014) - The Lakewood BlueClaws pulled ahead in the eighth inning and held on to beat the Kannapolis Intimidators, 5-4, on Friday night at CMC-NorthEast Stadium. Kannapolis (44-52, 15-14 Second Half) hit three home runs over the first three innings but mustered just four hits on the night.

Lakewood pulled ahead in the eighth when Dylan Cozens doubled to open the inning, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a Tyler Barnette wild pitch with two outs. Barnette (2-7) struck out four batters over 2.0 innings but gave up a run on one hit with a walk while being tagged with a loss.

Julio Reyer (2-3) tossed 3.0 scoreless, hitless innings for the win, and Dan Child worked a perfect ninth for the save (1).  

Adam Engel led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to left field that BlueClaws outfielder Samuel Hiciano just missed taking away. Hiciano enacted his revenge in the top of the second with a game-tying home run.

Jacob Morris followed Engel's lead, opening the bottom of the second inning with a home run (7) for a 2-1 lead.

Lakewood pulled ahead, 4-2, with three runs on four hits in the top of the third. Zach Green's 2-run base hit cashed Andrew Pullin and Andrew Knapp. Green crossed the plate on a double by Willians Astudillo.

The Intimidators knotted the game, 4-4, thanks to a Christian Stringer solo home run in the third and a Brett Austin RBI-groundout in the fourth.

The Intimidators and BlueClaws continue this home stand with Game 2 of the 4-game series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. with a post-game fireworks show presented by Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates. For ticket and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.