A St. Patrick's Day celebration at Lake Olmstead Stadium on Thursday night came one month late, but the necessary pitching effort from the GreenJackets came right on time.

The home team snapped a two-game skid with a 4-2 win over the Kannapolis Intimidators thanks to strong pitching performances by starter Oliver Odle and relievers Daniel Runzler and Daniel Turpen.

The three combined to allow seven hits in eight innings. The two relievers each threw 1w innings and didn't give up a run.

"They have been very effective. We've certainly been the beneficiary of their work," GreenJackets manager Andy Skeels said. "These guys have stepped up to the challenge."

Many in the announced crowd of 3,865 came wearing green as part of the belated St. Patrick's Day promotion. The GreenJackets, wearing special green jerseys, grabbed an early lead and held on to improve to 8-7.

Kannapolis leadoff man Sergio Morales tripled on the third pitch of the game. He scored when Andrew Mead grounded out down the first-base line for a one-run lead.

The GreenJackets took control in the second inning and never let go.

Angel Villalona led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nestor Rojas. After Charlie Culberson got hit in the helmet with a pitch, a James Simmons grounder was sent flying past first base on a throwing error by Kannapolis second baseman Joe Persichina. Villalona scored on the play.

Simmons stole second on the next at bat and kept going after the throw sailed into center field. He scored on an RBI single from Shane Jordan to give the GreenJackets a 2-1 lead.

The home team added two more runs in the third inning on a double-play grounder by Villalona that scored Nick Noonan and an RBI double by Rojas that scored Garrett Baker.