Cannon's Pinch-Hit Blast Lifts Fayetteville Over Morehead City
Published on July 9, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Fayetteville SwampDogs News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Jay Cannon delivered a pinch-hit, three-run homerun in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Fayetteville SwampDogs to a 4-3 win over the Morehead City Marlins on Saturday night at J.P. Riddle Stadium.
Fayetteville (23-11, 6-0) remains the only unbeaten team in the second-half of the CPL season. They have now upped their season-high winning streak to seven games.
For seven innings, it appeared as though the story would be Marlins starter Shawn Armstrong (3-2), who allowed just four hits while striking out eight and keeping the SwampDogs off the scoreboard. But Morehead City (17-18, 3-4) managed just two unearned runs through their first eight trips to the plate, keeping the 'Dogs within striking distance.
In the bottom of the eighth, Dillon Checkal stroked a one-out single up the middle to start the rally. Eric Grabe followed with his second hit of the night, and John Hogan then drove home Checkal with a single to get the SwampDogs on the board and end Armstrong's night.
After lefthander Ryne Frankoff struck out Billy Urban for the second out, head coach Darrell Handelsman elected to pinch hit for the left-handed hitting Danny Gesick with the right-handed hitting Cannon, who was batting just .186 on the season entering the at bat. But Cannon drove a pitch deep down the leftfield line for his first homerun of the season, giving the SwampDogs a 4-2 lead.
Brandon Huffman came on and earned his second save of the year, despite allowing a run in the ninth. Cory Kent (4-0) pitched two innings and earned the victory, as the SwampDogs improved to 10-6 in one-run games this season, more one-run games than any other team in the CPL.
Starter Brandon Browne once again battled through a shaky start in which the Marlins got a run in the first after an error by Billy Urban. But Browne responded with five shutout innings after that, finishing with five hits and three walks allowed in six innings, to go along with six strikeouts.
Meanwhile Grabe continues to inch closer to setting a CPL record. With two hits tonight, Grabe now has 154 hits in his CPL career, just four shy of the record of 158 set by Will Skinner of Forest City last season. Both he and Konstantine Diamaduros of Forest City entered the night with 152 hits, and both delivered two more to remain tied, four behind Skinner.
The SwampDogs now head to Columbia for a Sunday matinee at 6:05 p.m. before returning home on Monday for a doubleheader with the Wilmington Sharks on Faith and Family Night. Gates will open at 5 p.m., with first pitch of game one set for 6:05 p.m. at J.P. Riddle Stadium.
Coastal Plain League Stories from July 9, 2011
- Tobs get comeback win over HiToms! - Wilson Tobs
- Owls Sink Mustangs, 9-2 - Forest City Owls
- Cannon's Pinch-Hit Blast Lifts Fayetteville Over Morehead City - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Sharks push past Columbia for late win - Wilmington Sharks
- Tobs slip past HiToms - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Batts, Sharks Outduel Blowfish - Lexington County Blowfish
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