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ROME, Ga. (May 14, 2017) - Reliever Kyle Kubat faced one over the minimum in 4.0 relief innings as the Intimidators pitched their way past the Rome Braves, 2-1, in a Mother's Day win on Sunday afternoon at State Mutual Stadium. Kannapolis (19-15) earned its fourth straight win while staying undefeated on the road against the South Atlantic League Southern Division.
Kubat (2-2) took over in the fourth inning and retired the first seven batters he faced while sitting down 12 of the 13 he faced en route to earning his second straight win. The left-hander struck out three while allowing one hit.
Kannapolis broke the scoreless tie in the eighth inning when Brandon Dulin led off the inning with a double down the right-field line and advanced to third on a Grant Massey bunt. Two batters later, Joel Booker chopped a base hit over a drawn-in infield, scoring Dulin for the game's first run. Mitch Roman added a two-out RBI when he blooped a ball into shallow right field, scoring Massey for a 2-0 lead.
The Braves (19-17) battled in the home half of the eighth as Juan Yepez put Rome on the board with an RBI-double with one out. Reliever Ben Wright bounced back to retire the next batters, stranding the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position at the end of the eighth.
Mike Morrison needed just 12 pitches to strike out the side in the a perfect ninth for his team-leading seventh save (7). Morrison is now 7-for-7 in save situations while tallying 26 strikeouts compared to three walks in 16 and 1/3 innings for Kannapolis in 2017.
The teams traded scoreless innings for most of the game as both teams missed opportunities to capture the game's first run. Rome opened the bottom of the first with three straight base hits to load the bases, but Intimidators starter Jimmy Lambert struck out a batter and induced a double play to get out of the jam.
The Braves put two on with one out in the second inning before Lambert retired the next two batters to end the threat. In the third, Lambert walked the first two Rome hitters before Juan Yepez hit into a double play, and Tanner Murphy grounded out to end the inning.
The Intimidators were not above reproach, putting two on with no outs in the third inning before Braves starter Joey Wentz struck out two of the next three batters to keep Kannapolis scoreless in the frame.
Kannapolis is now 7-0 on the road against the SAL's Southern Division. The team swept three games at Asheville in April and opened this road trip with two wins at Augusta before taking the first two games of this 4-game set at Rome.
The Intimidators continue this 4-game series against the Braves on Monday at 7:00 p.m. as RHP Yosmer Solorzano (1-2, 3.12 ERA) faces Rome's LHP Ryan Lawlor (2-0, 3.30 ERA). The team returns home on Thursday, May 18, for a 7-game home stand against Hickory and Greenville. The upcoming home stand features several can't-miss promotions, including Motorsports Night on May 18 with a ticket giveaway to the big May race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. On May 19, the Intimidators are hosting Get Healthy Kannapolis. May 20 is Faith & Fireworks. May 21 is Bark in the Park in partnership with South Ridge Veterinary Hospital. Tickets are available by calling the F&M Bank Box Office at 704-932-3267 or by visiting IntimidatorsBaseball.com.
