Burger's blast highlights 6-run first

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (July 31, 2017) - The Intimidators scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning, sparked by a Jake Burger home run, en route to a 9-8 victory over the Delmarva Shorebirds on Monday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System. Kannapolis (16-21 Second Half, 55-50) picked up its fourth win in its last five games.
I's reliever Danny Dopico (3-3) earned the win, tossing two innings and allowing two runs on three hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Tyler Johnson earned his first save, pitching a scoreless ninth inning while fanning two. Delmarva's Lucas Humpal (6-9) suffered the loss after recording just two outs and being chased from the game in the first inning. Humpal allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
The first inning onslaught began when leadoff man Alex Call reached on an error and was followed by a Blake Rutherford single that put two aboard. Up next, Burger launched his second home run of the season over the left-center field fence to give Kannapolis a 3-0 lead.
After Burger, Micker Adolfo cranked his team leading 27^th double to right center field and was brought home on an RBI single by Gavin Sheets to make it 4-0.
Moments later Zach Remillard poked a two-RBI single, giving Kannapolis a 6-0 lead. In total, Kannapolis sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning and tied a season-high for runs scored in a single frame.
After allowing two runs in the top of the second, the Intimidators scored again in the bottom half of the frame when Adolfo came home on a wild pitch making it a 7-2 game.
Four unanswered runs by Delmarva tightened the score 7-6, but in the bottom of the sixth inning, Sheets ripped a two-RBI double to right center field giving Kannapolis a 9-6 lead. Sheets finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.
Kannapolis continues a three-game homestand on Tuesday with the second game of a three-game series versus Delmarva. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. as the Intimidators send to the mound RHP Yelmison Peralta (1-2, 4.76 ERA) against Shorebirds LHP Zach Muckenhirn (4-7, 4.63 ERA).
Tuesday night also features Bingo throughout the game. Tickets are available by calling the F&M Bank Box Office at 704-932-3267, or by visiting IntimidatorsBaseball.com.