KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (June 14, 2017) - Jimmy Lambert worked into the seventh inning to pitch the Intimidators past the Hagerstown Suns, 4-1 in seven innings, in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday evening at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System. Kannapolis (34-28) nearly shutout the division leaders
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (June 14, 2017) - Jimmy Lambert worked into the seventh inning to pitch the Intimidators past the Hagerstown Suns, 4-1 in seven innings, in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday evening at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System. Kannapolis (34-28) nearly shutout the division leaders while taking the series opener.
HEAR THE HIGHLIGHTS: Brandon Dulin's home run | Fisher to Zavala outfield assist
Lambert (7-2) kept the Suns off the scoreboard over the first six innings en route to earning the win. He tossed 6 and 1/3 frames, allowing an unearned run on seven hits while striking out five and walking none. In the seventh, Lambert committed a throwing error that allowed Sheldon Neuse to score Hagerstown's only run. Danny Dopico took the mound following the Suns run and immediately induced a game-ending double play for a 1-pitch save (1).
Hagerstown threatened to strike first in the second inning when the Suns put men on the corners with no outs. Nick Banks lifted a fly ball to left field where Jameson Fisher made the catch and fired a bullet to the plate where Seby Zavala tagged out a sliding Sheldon Neuse to keep the Suns off the scoreboard.
Brandon Dulin led off the home half of the second with a home run (8) for an early 1-0 lead.
Kannapolis took advantage of a Hagerstown error in the third to double its lead. Tyler Sullivan led off the bottom of the third with a base hit and moved to second base on a Mitch Roman 1-out single. Fisher grounded a would-be inning-ending double play back to Sterling Sharp, but the Suns starting pitcher threw the ball into center field, allowing Sullivan to score on the miscue for a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, Zach Remillard led off with a base hit and scored from first on a Zavala double down the left field line for a 3-0 lead. Following a Grant Massey bunt-single, Sullivan grounded a ball to right field to plate Zavala for 4-0 advantage.
Sharp (3-4) took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits over 4.0 innings while striking out four and walking none.
The second game of Wednesday's doubleheader begins at 7:30 p.m. at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System. Kannapolis sends RHP Kelvis Valerio (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against Hagerstown's RHP A.J. Bogucki (0-0, 2.51 ERA) in the second game of the twin bill. The teams wrap up this series with another doubleheader on Thursday with Game 1 starting at 4:30 p.m. and Game 2 starting no earlier than 7:00 p.m. on a Thirsty Thursday. The home stand also features the second annual Disney Vacation Giveaway Night on Saturday, June 17, where one lucky fan will win a $2,500 vacation to the Magic Kingdom. Tickets are available by calling the F&M Bank Box Office at 704-932-3267 or by visiting IntimidatorsBaseball.com.