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Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Adolfo's First Class A Home Run Beats Bugs

May 1, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


COLUMBIA, S.C. - Micker Adolfo belted a tie-breaking home run in the sixth inning, and Mother Nature earned the save as Kannapolis edged Columbia in a rain-shortened contest, 5-4 in 7 innings, on Sunday afternoon at Spirit Communications Park. Tanner Banks earned the win for the Intimidators (10-14), extending his streak of five straight wins to open the season.

Adolfo's 3-run home run (1) off Fireflies reliever Johnny Magliozzi broke a tie game to put the Intimidators ahead of Columbia, 5-2, in the top of the sixth inning. The White Sox No. 8 Prospect according to MLB.com, Adolfo finished 1-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored. Bradley Strong played to his surname, going 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored in his second game for Kannapolis.

Banks (5-0) worked around a career-high five walks to allow two runs (one earned) on three hits over 5.0 innings. He struck out five batters to secure his South Atlantic League-leading fifth win. Entering Sunday, no other pitcher on the circuit had more than three wins.

With the game tied 2-2, Cody Daily led off the top of the sixth with a double, and Strong followed with a base hit to put men on the corners. Adolfo stepped to the plate and belted the first pitch over the wall in left field for his first home run (1) of the season and sixth of his career.

Magliozzi (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in 2.0 relief innings. Brannon Easterling picked up a save (1) for Kannapolis, tossing the sixth and seventh and allowing a pair of unearned runs before storms washed away the rest of the afternoon.

Errors by both first baseman allowed early runs across for both teams. In the bottom of the first inning, the Fireflies had men on the corners with one out when Jeff Diehl grounded a ball to Kannapolis third baseman Dante Flores. Flores threw to second baseman Bradley Strong for one out, but Strong's throw to first base was dropped by Corey Zangari, allowing the Fireflies' first run.

Kannapolis got even in the top of the third inning when Flores grounded a ball to first base, and Columbia's Dash Winningham let the ball get under his glove, allowing Tyler Sullivan to score from second base on the play.

Columbia pulled back in front in the home half of the third when Enmanuel Zabala and J.C. Rodriguez led off with back-to-back doubles for a 2-1 advantage. Kannapolis again knotted the game in the top of the fourth when Strong led off with a base hit, stole second base, and scored on Daniel Gonzalez's RBI-single for a 2-2 ballgame.

The Intimidators wrap up this 4-game series at Spirit Communications Park on Monday at 7:05 p.m. as Kannapolis sends LHP Johnathan Frebis (2-1, 4.22) to the mound against Columbia's RHP Chase Ingram (2-1, 2.45 ERA). The team returns to Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System on Wednesday, May 4, to open a 7-game home stand against the Hagerstown Suns (May 4-6) and Lakewood BlueClaws (May 7-10). For tickets and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 1, 2016


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