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CarL Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Ballers Fall in 26 Run, 30 Hit Ballgame with RiverDogs Tuesday

June 29, 2021 - Carolina League (CarL)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - 26 runs and 30 hits combined between the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and the Charleston RiverDogs gave fans a show on Tuesday night at Atrium Health Ballpark, but the Ballers dropped the series opener 16-10.

RHP Jesus Valles got the start for the Ballers on the hill. The righty from Venezuela continued his trends of success, allowing four hits, two earned runs, one walk, and three punchouts in his five innings of work. RHP Sal Biasi (L, 1-1) entered in relief in the sixth inning, going just two-thirds of a frame, allowing two hits, four earned runs, two walks, and one strikeout.

Kannapolis (15-33) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with two quick runs. On just the second pitch the Cannon Ballers faced, Samil Polanco notched an RBI single to left field, scoring Jose Rodriguez, who reached on a first-pitch double. Two batters later, Luis Mieses flew out to center field, allowing Polanco to cross the plate, making it 2-0 Kannapolis early.

The RiverDogs (32-15) got on the board in the top of the fourth with Heriberto Hernandez scoring on a double play ground out by Brett Wisely. Charleston added another run in the top of the fifth when Alika Williams tallied his first of three RBIs on a sacrifice fly that scored Johan Lopez, knotting the ballgame at 2-2.

The game stayed tied for three pitches in the bottom of the fifth, before Chase Krogman crushed a solo shot to right field to give the Ballers a 3-2 lead. Later in the inning, Polanco continued his upwards-trending ways, adding an RBI single that scored Victor Torres. Bryan Ramos then followed with an RBI double to make it 5-2, advantage Kannapolis.

RHP Seth Johnson began the evening for Charleston on the bump. The Concord, N.C. native and former Campbell Camel fired four innings, allowing nine hits and five runs, one walk, and striking out one in front of a multitude of family and friends. RHP Addison Moss (W, 2-0) relieved Johnson in the fifth inning, going two innings, striking out one, walking one, and letting three runs score on three hits.

The wheels fell off the wagon for the Cannon Ballers in the top of the sixth, allowing the RiverDogs to accumulate eight runs on six hits. Wisely tallied an RBI single, followed by a Nick Schnell sacrifice fly. Two batters later Jonathan Embry smacked an RBI double to left field to score Johan Lopez. Alika Williams followed with a deep two-run home run to left field, his first home run of the season. Three batters later, Diego Infante's RBI double gave Hernandez his second run of the inning, putting Charleston ahead 10-5 at the end of the sixth frame.

The struggles continued for Kannapolis on the mound, with Schnell and Lopez each adding solo home runs in the top of the seventh to extend the RiverDogs lead to 12-5.

Ramos' second RBI of the ballgame came in the bottom of the seventh, driving home Rodriguez on a groundout. Mieses continued the inning with an RBI single that allowed Polanco to cross the plate, pulling the Ballers to within five runs. Harvin Mendoza's second home run of the season gave Kannapolis two more runs on the board, making the score 12-9.

Wisely notched another RBI in the top of the eighth, hitting an RBI single to right field to drive home Hernandez. The very next batter Alexander Ovalles got involved with an RBI double, putting the RiverDogs up 14-9. A wild pitch by LHP Rigo Fernandez then allowed Schnell to cross the plate, expanding the lead to 15-9.

Polanco's hot night at the plate kept going in the bottom of the eighth, tallying his third RBI on a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Victor Torres to pull Kannapolis back within five for a second time, 15-10.

Ovalles capped off the scoring in the combined 26 run and 30 hit ballgame with an RBI single in the top of the ninth, giving Charleston a 16-10 lead.

The Cannon Ballers will look to rebound in the second of six tilts this week against the RiverDogs on Wednesday night. The Bark in The Park ballgame is slated for a 7:00 p.m. first pitch. Kannapolis has assigned RHP Martin Carrasco (1-2, 7.29 ERA) as their starter on the mound, with Charleston scheduled to send RHP Taj Bradley (4-3, 2.86 ERA) to the hill.

Tickets can be purchased for any of the remaining home games at kcballers.com or at the F&M Bank Box Office located at Atrium Health Ballpark.

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Carolina League Stories from June 29, 2021


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