Skoug homers twice as Intimidators fall

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Aug. 27, 2017) - Evan Skoug belted two late-game home runs for the Intimidators, but it wasn't enough as the BlueClaws used their own bombs to beat Kannapolis, 7-6, on Sunday evening at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System. Kannapolis (27-36 Second Half, 66-65) wrapped up the home portion of the 2017 regular season 30-40.  
With the game tied 6-6 going into the ninth, Lakewood's Arquimedes Gamboa hit a go-ahead home run (6) to right field, and BlueClaws reliever Will Hibbs spun a perfect ninth for his league-leading 18th save. JB Olson (1-1) took the loss for Kannapolis while Lakewood's Jake Kelzer earned the win (1-1) despite giving up a game-tying home run to Skoug in the home half of the eighth inning.
Trailing 4-2 going to the bottom of the seventh, Kannapolis rallied for three runs to take its first lead of the game. Skoug opened the frame with a solo home run (1) to pull within a run. Alex Call added a game-tying RBI-single to cash Grant Massey, and Jake Burger gave the Intimidators their first lead with a go-ahead single to score Call.  
The BlueClaws flipped the script in the top of the eighth inning. Kannapolis led 5-4 as Gamboa led off the inning with a double down the first base line. Two batters later, Darick Hall drove him in with his league-leading 96th RBI. Henri Lartigue gave Lakewood a 6-5 lead on a 2-our RBI-single. 
Skoug evened the score with a 2-out home run (2) in the home half of the eighth inning to keep Kannapolis close before Gamboa's ninth inning heroics. Skoug finished 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Gambo led the BlueClaws going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and two runs scored.  
Lakewood wasted little time getting on the board. Adam Haseley led off the game with a triple and scored one batter later on a sac-fly by Arquimedes Gamboa for a 1-0 lead.
Kannapolis tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the second as Mitch Roman singled to lead off the inning and came around to score on a 2-out wild pitch.  
Mickey Moniak, the Phillies first round pick and top overall selection from the June 2016 First-Year Player Draft, broke the 1-1 tie with a 2-run home run (5) over the right field wall in the top of the third inning. 
Kannapolis is off Monday before opening a 3-game series in Greensboro on Tuesday. The Intimidators finish the 2017 regular season on the road against the Greensboro Grasshoppers and in Lakewood against the BlueClaws. Kannapolis is playoff-bound by virtue of winning the SAL Northern Division First Half Championship and will host Game 2 of the Northern Division Series on Friday, September 8. Playoff tickets are available by calling the F&M Bank Box Office at 704-932-3267, or by visiting IntimidatorsBaseball.com.