By David Shaw

david.shaw@salisburypost.com

KANNAPOLIS — Sunday was “Bark in the Park Day” at CMC-NorthEast Stadium, but all the Intimidators did was roll over obediently.

With more than 2,300 spectators and a horde of canines in attendance, Kannapolis fell, 9-1, to visiting Delmarva.

“We were flat today,” manager Tommy Thompson said after the Intimidators (27-30) lost to the Shorebirds for the third time in four days. “Their pitchers threw strikes, with very hittable pitches. We just didn’t execute. It wasn’t a pretty day for the Kannapolis Intimidators.”

The numbers support Thompson’s testimony. The home team managed only four singles and Christian Stringer’s first-inning double against three Delmarva (26-29) hurlers, each sturdier than the other.  They grounded out 13 times. And they were retired in order in six of the last seven innings.

“It didn’t seem like we came ready to play,” said catcher Brett Austin. “I don’t know if we were tired or we just checked out. The best thing is this was only one day.”

It was a day for the dogs. “Unfortunately, these things do happen,” said outfielder Louie Lechich, who scored the only Kannapolis run on Nick Basto’s seventh-inning sac fly. “You’ve just got to put it behind you.”

The beneficiary was winning pitcher Josh Walker, a 23-year-old right-hander who tossed five scoreless innings and faced only 17 batters. Drafted a year ago by the Baltimore Orioles, he procured eight groundouts and retired the last 11 men he saw.

“He had a pretty good natural sink and run on his ball,” said Lechich, the Intimidators’ RBI leader with 32. “We struggled to get the ball up in the air. Instead he had us pounding it into the ground.”

The tough-luck loser — if you can call it that — was Zach Thompson, a 21-year-old right-hander beckoned from extended spring training when six-game winner Jordan Guerrero was promoted last week. His debut was admirable, if unsuccessful. Thompson pitched three scoreless innings before faltering in the fourth, when Delmarva scored the game’s first four runs.

“The first three innings I was able to locate my fastball and change up,” said the tall Texan, who yielded seven hits and two earned runs. “In the last inning, my location wasn’t where I wanted it to be. Still, I had the same competitive mindset that I’ve had in Glendale (Ariz.).”

Thompson — making his first start since last August — struck out four, walked one and boasted a moving fastball that routinely clocked in the low 90’s. “He just had one tough inning,” said his manager. “He left a couple pitches up. This is a good-hitting ball club and he caught them while they’re playing well. It looks like he can mix his pitches up and he competes. I think he’ll do fine.”

Added Austin: “I was impressed with him. He had good stuff.”

Not a glowing endorsement, but not bad. “I’m just here to do a job,” Thompson noted. “I’m just here to get people out.”

Reliever Brad Salgado, a converted infielder, provided three innings of hitless relief before David Trexler was tagged for five ninth-inning runs. That left Thompson, the manager, in a dismal mood.

“The great thing about baseball is it can happen fast,” he said. “And it did. They put up two crooked numbers, a four and a five. It’s tough to come back from those.”

Delmarva  000 400 005 — 9  11  0

Kannapolis 000 000 100 — 1  5  1

WP — Walker (1-0)

LP — Thompson (0-1)