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GREENSBORO -- One day after having their 12-game winning streak snapped, the Kannapolis Intimidators showed the Greensboro Grasshoppers why they are the best team in the South Atlantic League with a 7-2 win Saturday night at NewBridge Bank Park.

Ryan Keedy hit a solo home run in the first inning but that was all the offense the Hoppers could muster off Intimidators starter Joe Serafin, a 37th-round selection in the 2009 draft.

Serafin, who was 4-7 with a 6.26 ERA as a fifth-year senior at Vermont, has found life in the minor leagues much more agreeable. The win was the third in four decisions in Kannapolis for the 5-foot-11 lefty, who upped his pro record to 7-2.

"I struggled a little bit my senior year up there," Serafin said. "I couldn't throw my fastball down in the zone. I don't throw my fastball very hard so I can't blow it by people. Up here I've been keeping it down in the zone, moving it in and out and hitting corners, which has really led to my success."

In seven innings, Serafin allowed five hits, one walk and struck out six batters.

"Tonight the curveball was working," Serafin said. "I buried it a couple of times and they chased it. I could get it over for a strike most of the time. I think I threw it 80 percent for a strike. If I had my changeup it would have been a little better but I couldn't throw it for a strike tonight."

Greensboro manager Darin Everson was impressed with Serafin's command.

"He located well," Everson said. "He wasn't overpowering but he put the ball where he wanted to and was able to get us to swing over top of stuff."

In six games for the Intimidators, Serafin has a 4-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.

Bryan Evans, making his fifth start of the season, took the loss for Greensboro, although the defense was a little shaky behind him. In five innings, he got five strikeouts and nine ground ball outs.

"That's his game," Everson said of the grounders. "I thought he pitched very well. He did give up a couple of two-out runs but overall he pitched well, pitched in the bottom of the zone and deserved a better fate."

Three of the four runs Evans allowed were unearned, due to two errors and a passed ball.

Kannapolis put the game out of reach in the seventh inning when cleanup hitter Jon Gilmore delivered a three-run double.

Serafin was pulled after 102 pitches and the Hoppers loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth. But Kevin Asselin allowed only one run on a walk to Thomas Hickman. He got out of trouble by recording three swinging strikeouts.

NOTES: Keedy was ejected in the fourth inning after being called out on strikes. The plate umpire said he drew a line in the dirt to indicate the pitch was inside. ... Hickman and Isaac Galloway each had two hits for Greensboro. ... In the first half the Hoppers and Intimidators both had 37-33 records. In the second half Kannapolis is 41-19. ... C Josh Phegley, a supplemental first-round pick in the 2009 draft, had a double and two RBIs for the Intimidators.

KANNAPOLIS GREENSBORO

E--Phegley (6), Galloway (6), Pertusati (23). DP--Greensboro 2. LOB--Kannapolis 6, Greensboro 8. 2B--Morales (13), Sierra (11), Phegley (8), Gilmore (23), Lasater (32). HR--Keedy (7). SB--Galloway (14). CS--Hickman (2).

WP--Serafin. PB--Ceballos (1).

Umpires--Home, Moisan. Base, Danielsen.

T--2:34. A--8,027.