SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Clarke, Alvarez Blast Bombs to Beat Braves

Published on August 26, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (August 26, 2014) - The Intimidators offense came to life late as Kannapolis overcame a 2-run deficit to beat the Rome Braves, 5-4, on Tuesday at CMC-NorthEast Stadium. Chevy Clarke, a former Los Angeles Angels first round pick in the June 2010 draft who signed with the White Sox in June, began a 2-out rally in the seventh with a solo home run (1), and Eddy Alvarez added a 2-run blast to take the lead.

After Rome tied the game in the top of the eighth, Carl Thomore followed an intentional walk with what turned out to be the game-winning hit, driving in Jacob Morris in the home half of the eighth for a 5-4 lead.

Connor Walsh (1-0), the White Sox 12th round pick in the June 2014 First-Year Player Draft, earned his first win with the Intimidators and second of his career, striking out four batters over 2.0 relief innings, while allowing a run on two hits.

Kannapolis scored first when Christian Stringer's 2-out base hit scored Thomore for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. The Braves knotted the score, 1-1, in the fourth when former Intimidators infielder Ross Wilson led off the inning with a double and scored on a Jacob Schraeder groundout.

Codey McElroy blasted the Braves into the lead with a 2-run home run (2) in the fifth inning for a 3-1 lead.

The Intimidators used a pair of 2-out home runs in the seventh to reclaim the lead. Clarke bombed a ball over the right field wall to pull the Intimidators within one, and two batters later Eddy Alvarez launched a 2-run home run (3) for a 4-3 lead.

Rome tied the game, 4-4, in the eighth when Alejandro Piloto singled with two outs to score Joey Meneses. In the bottom of the eighth, Jacob Morris singled with one out, and Jeremy Dowdy doubled to put move the go-ahead run to third base. Rome intentionally walked Toby Thomas, setting up a double-play and bringing Thomore to the plate. The New Jersey native came through with his second hit of the day, cashing in Morris off reliever Pete Perez.

Matt Sims (0-2) took the loss for Rome, allowing four runs on five hits, including two home runs, over 2 and 1/3 innings. Starter Yean Carlos Gil limited the Intimidators to a run on five hits over 5.0 innings, striking out two and walking one.

Jeff McKenzie worked 6.0 innings for Kannapolis, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out four. Jose Brito tossed a scoreless seventh inning for Kannapolis.

The Intimidators continue this 3-game series against the Braves on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. For ticket 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 August 26, 2014


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