SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Alvarez provides run in 9th as I's edge Suns

Published on May 30, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (May 30, 2015) - Eddy Alvarez provided an an-important insurance run in the top of the ninth inning that proved to be the difference as the Intimidators edged the Suns, 3-2, on Saturday at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown. Kannapolis (23-26) has won seven of its last 11 games.

Alvarez, who finished the night 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored, used his speed stretch the Kannapolis lead to 3-1 in the final frame. He clubbed a one-out triple to deep left field. With the infield in, Christian Stringer smashed a grounder to the right side where first baseman Grant DeBruin made a diving stab, but Alvarez broke from third on contact. Rather than throw home, DeBruin took the ball to first for the out, giving Kannapolis a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, Matt Cooper never let the tying run reach base, recording the six-out save (3) and preserve the win for starter Thad Lowry (5-2). Lowry spun 7.0 strong innings, keeping Hagerstown off the board for the first six, finishing with three strikeouts and two walks while allowing a run on three hits. Lowry's fifth win - coming in his ninth start of the year - establishes a new career-high, surpassing his total of four wins in 17 starts last season in the South Atlantic League.

Michael Danner, a former standout at the University of Tampa which won the Division II NCAA National Championship in baseball earlier today, put Kannapolis on the board with a two-out double that scored Mason Robbins in the top the second inning. Five of Danner's first nine hits with Kannapolis have been doubles.

Hagerstown starter Connor Bach walked the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the fourth, but the Intimidators could not capitalize. Bach (1-1) ended the night after 4.0 innings of work, walking five and striking out three while giving up an unearned run on two hits in a losing effort.

Kannapolis strung together four straight hits to open the top of the seventh inning off reliever Andrew Cooper, but both Alvarez and Stringer were thrown out on the base paths. Louie Lechich singled with two outs, and Nick Basto followed with a double down the left-field line, scoring Lechich from first for a 2-0 lead.

The Suns (25-24) broke up the shutout in the bottom of the seventh. DeBruin led off the inning with a double, the Suns' third hit off Lowry, and later scored on a David Masters' sac-fly to cut the Intimidators lead to one, 2-1.

Kannapolis wraps up this four-games series against the Suns on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. with a chance to win the series at Municipal Stadium. RHP Yency Almonte (3-2, 3.72 ERA) takes the mound for the Intimidators against Hagerstown's RHP Robbie Dickey (0-0, 10.12 ERA). The Intimidators return home on Thursday, June 4, for a four-game series against Delmarva. For tickets and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 30, 2015


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