Kannapolis snaps Suns' winning streak

June 10, 2012

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — The Kannapolis Intimidators scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning and went on to beat the Hagerstown Suns 6-2 on Sunday evening, ending the Suns’ season-best seven-game winning streak.

The Suns (38-24) dropped a game to Greensboro in the South Atlantic League Northern Division standings after the Grasshoppers ended their five-game losing streak with a 13-4 win over Lexington.

Hagerstown trails Greensboro by 2 1/2 games with seven to play in the first half.

Kannapolis (29-34) got all the offense it needed in the fourth inning off Suns starter Matt Purke (0-2), though Purke nearly escaped the inning unscathed.

Bill Rice led off with an infield single and Purke hit Ross Wilson to move Rice into scoring position. But Rangel Ravelo lined out to second baseman Cutter Dykstra, who threw to shortstop Jason Martinson to catch Rice off the bag for the double play.

Purke then surrendered a double to Mark Haddow that scored Wilson for a 1-0 Kannapolis lead. Grant Buckner and Leighton Pangilinan walked to load the bases and Martin Medina drove in two with a single to left.

The Suns got two runs back in their half of the fifth against Intimidators starter Scott Snodgress. Cole Leonida drew a one-out walk and Billy Burns was hit by a pitch. Brian Goodwin doubled to left, scoring Leonida and moving Burns to third.

Dykstra walked to load the bases and chase Snodgress from the game. Chris Devenski came on in relief to strike out Martinson for the second out. Matt Skole walked to force in Burns and cut the deficit to 3-2, but Steven Souza grounded out to end the inning.

Kannapolis added an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth, then tacked on two more insurance runs in the eighth.

Devenski (2-2) earned the win, throwing 2 2/3 hitless innings while striking out two. Jason Van Skike got the save.

Purke went 5 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits but walking four.

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