KANNAPOLIS, NC - An error in the eighth inning opens the gates for the Kannapolis Intimidators in a 1- 1 game and compounds the lack of hitting all night for the Lakewood BlueClaws in a 4-1 loss on Thursday night.
In a 1-1 game in the bottom of the eighth, Eduardo Escobar doubled to lead off the inning and then scored on a catching error by Harold Garcia as the Intimidators (17-16) bunted with the next batter. The throw from pitcher Ryan Bergh was low, but should have been handled and then the flood gates opened and three runs came in to score.
The BlueClaws (18-14) got on the board early as Jeremy Hamilton singled in Travis Mattair in the second inning, but the Intimidators came right back and scored in the forth to tie things up. The game would then stay tied until the eighth inning.
Jason Knapp was the starter for the BlueClaws and he went five strong innings allowing one run and striking out nine in the no decision. The BlueClaws are now 2-5 when their ace starts a game, mostly because of the lack of run support he gets. Justin De Fratus then worked two innings and struck out four without allowing a run and Bergh (2-2) came on for the eighth and picked up the loss and allowed the three runs.
For the Intimidators, converted reliever Stephen Sauer started the game and was again effective, going five innings, recording eight strikeouts. The Bullpen of Drew O'Neil, Nate Jones (2-0) and Dan Remenowsky then came on and worked four innings while striking out nine to seal the victory for the Intimidators.
The BlueClaws went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and also struck out a season-high 17 times on the game.
The BlueClaws, off to a sour note on their run of 24 games in 24 days, will play game two of their series on Friday at 7:05 and will look to Heitor Correa (0-1) to right the ship again. He is coming off a nice start at home, but he struggled on the road in his first start. The Intimidators will counter with Charlie Leesman (3- 2).