The Kannapolis Intimidators scored nine runs on nine hits in the fifth inning on their way to an 11-7 win over the Lexington Legends on Wednesday.
The win was the fifth in a row for host Kannapolis, which will go for the four-game series sweep Thursday night. Lexington has lost four straight and six of seven and dropped below .500 on the season.
The Legends didn't have a base runner until two outs in the fifth inning, when they scored four runs for a 4-1 lead. But in the bottom half, Kannapolis sent 14 batters to the plate and posted its highest single-inning run total of 2011.
Former Morehead State star Drew Lee led off with a single, and Rafael Vera was hit by a pitch. Kevin Dubler doubled, scoring Lee. John Spatola's single scored Vera, and Trayce Thompson followed with another single, scoring Dubler to tie it at 4.
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After Michael Foltynewicz (0-6) walked Ross Wilson to load the bases, that was it for the Legends' starter. He was charged with seven earned runs on eight hits while striking out four and walking two. His ERA jumped to 6.63. Four of the Legends' five regular starters have ERAs of 5.40 or worse. The exception is Tanner Bushue, who is scheduled to pitch Thursday, at 3.11.
David Martinez relieved Foltynewicz and immediately gave up a single that cleared the bases. Brady Shoemaker hit a fly ball that got past center fielder Emilio King for an error and allowed the third runner to score. Over the next six at-bats, Martinez managed two groundouts, but three more runs scored to make it 10-4. Yordany Ramirez replaced Martinez and got Thompson to pop out in foul territory to end the inning.
The Legends return home for a four-game series against Asheville on Friday.
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