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SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Banks Is Money, Shutting out West Virginia

April 20, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Tanner Banks was money on Wednesday afternoon, tossing a nine-inning, complete-game shutout to lead the Intimidators past the West Virginia Power, 1-0, at Appalachian Power Park. Banks worked around four hits and a walk while becoming the first Kannapolis pitcher to work nine innings in an outing since 2011.

Banks (3-0), who has won each of his first three starts in 2016, struck out five batters and threw a total of 97 pitches - 76 for strikes - en route to the longest start of his career. The Intimidators needed every pitch from Banks after Kannapolis played 25 innings over the past two nights, taxing the bullpen.

Kannapolis broke a scoreless tie in the eighth inning to provide Banks run support. With two outs and Landon Lassiter on first, Grant Massey drove a pitch to the right field corner, and Lassiter never stopped running. Right fielder Ryan Nagle's throw home beat the runner to the plate, but Lassiter's head-first slide jarred the ball away from catcher Christian Kelley, giving Kannapolis a 1-0 lead.

Power reliever Seth McGarry (0-1) took the loss, giving up a run on two hits in 2.0 innings of work. West Virginia's starting pitcher Dario Agrazal matched Banks for the first 6.0 innings, keeping Kannapolis off the board while working around a walk and four hits.

The game lasted an hour and 56 minutes, the shortest contest of the season and more than three hours quicker than Monday night's 16-inning marathon that continued for more than five hours.

Banks' performance is the first individual shutout by an Intimidators pitcher since June 3, 2014, when Thaddius Lowry spun a rain-shortened 5-inning no-hitter against the Power at Appalachian Power Park. The 9-inning scoreless outing is the first by an Intimidators starting pitcher since Spencer Arroyo spun 9.0 scoreless innings on June 18, 2011, against Greensboro, however Arroyo took no decision as Kannapolis needed 12 innings to beat the Grasshoppers that evening, 1-0. Banks tossed the first 9-inning complete game since at least 2004.

The Intimidators return to Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System on Thursday to open a 4-game series against Delmarva. Kannapolis sends LHP Johnathan Frebis (1-1, 5.40 ERA) to the mound against the Shorebirds RHP Cristian Alvarado (1-1, 4.82 ERA). Thursday's game is "Wear Your Favorite Jersey Night" where fans can purchase reserved tickets for only $5 by wearing a sports uniform to the ballpark. It's also a Thirsty Thursday presented by Buffalo Wild Wings with discounted drinks all game long. Plus fans can stick around for post-game Launch-A-Ball presented by Dick's Sporting Goods. For tickets and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

Check out the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from April 20, 2016


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