By Marny Hendrick

sports@salisburypost.com

KANNAPOLIS —The Kannapolis Intimidators just seem to play better when pitcher Jordan Guerrero is on the mound.

Guerrero, a 21-year-old left-hander, stifled the Lakewood Blue Claws on three hits in six shutout innings Sunday afternoon to propel the Intimidators to a 4-1 win at CMC NorthEast Stadium. The 72-pitch gem improved Guerrero’s 2015 record to 5-0 and dropped his ERA to a miniscule 1.37. He struck out eight and walked two in the process.

“He just keeps a good tempo and keeps everyone in the game,” said first baseman Toby Thomas, who went 2-for-4 with one RBI in the win. “He just pounds the strike zone and shows a lot of emotion, which gets everyone involved.”

The only threat from the visiting Blue Claws came in the top of the first inning, when they put two runners on with a single and a walk. Guerrero induced a ground out to halt the threat.

Kannapolis grouped all of their runs in the first three innings, with an unearned score in the first followed by two runs in the second on a Thomas double and an RBI single by Hunter Jones. A balk by Lakewood starter Elniery Garcia brought in Jones to make it 3-0.

The score reached 4-0 in the third on a Ryan Leonards double and an RBI single by Thomas. Guerrero then proceeded to retire eight of nine batters to close out his day after six frames.

“Everything is working right now,” said Guerrero, a California native drafted in the 12th round in 2012.

“I am locating the ball better, throwing my slider a lot better and my change-up is working real good, too.”

Lakewood scored their only run the the top of the eighth off Kannapolis reliever Jacob Morris after a pair of walks and a single by Rhys Hopkins. Kelvis Valerio came on the pitch the final 1.2 innings to secure a save.

The win improved Kannapolis to 16-19 in the South Atlantic League and split the four game series with the Blue Claws. They head to Asheville on Monday for three games before returning home next Thursday for three games each against the Hickory Crawdads and the Lexington Legends.

Roster Changes – Because of promotions for third baseman Chris Curley to AA Birmingham and first baseman Tyler Williams to the high A Winston-Salem Dash, the Intimidators played the last four games with four middle infielders, including putting utility specialist Thomas at first base for the first time ever.

“It was my first experience over there,” said the Mobile, Ala.,native Thomas, who has played third, second an even catcher in the past. “But I do what the team needs and it keeps me in the lineup.”

On Sunday, the White Sox organization addressed a number of needs up and down the line by promoting three Intimidators to Winston-Salem. Moving up are outfielder Michael Suiter, catcher Sean O’Connell and relief pitcher Devon Davis. Infielder Nick Basto is returning to Kannapolis from the Dash while infielder Ethan Gross and lefty reliever Tanner Banks are coming in from extended spring training.

Lakewood 000 000 010 — 1 4 1

Intimidators 121 000 00x — 4 9 0

WP — Jordan Guerrero (5-0)

SAVE – Kelvis Valerio (1)

LP — Elniery Garcia (2-4)

Time: 2:34; Attendance: 2726