SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

GreenJackets Win Slugfest 17-14

Published on June 27, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


In a game that saw 42 hits and 31 runs, the Kannapolis Intimidators were down early and lost another lead late in a wild 17-14 contest with the Augusta GreenJackets. This is the second game in the series where the Intimidators squandered a late-inning lead to drop to 1-3 in the second half.

It was tough going for Intimidators starter Andre Rienzo as he allowed four runs in the top of the first inning in the upper-90 degree heat in Kannapolis, NC on Sunday evening and lasted just two outs into the second inning as Luke Anders hit a grand slam home run to send Rienzo packing after 1.2 innings, eight runs and 11 hits. Amazingly enough, Rienzo got a no decision in the game and lasted two outs longer than the GreenJackets starter Jeremy Toole.

Toole allowed a run in the first but struggled mightily in the second inning. The first six batters to the plate in the inning reached as the Intimidators belted out six hits and six runs in the inning to come from 8-1 down to 8-7 after just two innings of play. Toole was taken out with two in that inning and the bases loaded and all three ended up scoring. Toole went one inning and allowed six earned runs.

For the Intimidators Matt Wickswat entered in relief of Rienzo in the bottom of the second and went four strong innings. Off Wickswat in the second, the GreenJackets tallied with two unearned runs to take a 10-7 advantage before the bottom-half of the third.

Brady Shoemaker led the inning off with his eighth home run of the season which was accompanied by two more runs in the inning to knot the game at 10 apiece after just three innings of play.

Wickswat allowed his only earned run in four innings of work in the fourth, but after an Ian Gac home run that went over the scoreboard at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium and RBI singles by both Jose Vargas and Zach Kayne, the Intimidators, from down 8-1 had a 13-11 lead. However, in the sixth inning, the Intimidators scored their final run on an RBI single by Rafael Vera to take a 14-11 lead.

Up three runs, Wickswat exited the game and Garrett Johnson allowed two runs in the seventh to make it a one run game going into the eighth. JR Ballinger (0-2) allowed a solo home run to start the inning off and with two on and one out in the ninth, Chris Dominguez hit a game-winning three-run home run to win 17-14. The Intimidators had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth but could not score on the closer Jose Castillas who picked up his fourth save of the season and second in as many games.

The GreenJackets used six pitchers, including Hector Correa who went 2.1 scoreless for his second win of the season.

Each team had 21 hits, both season highs in hits allowed and hits attained. There were six home runs in the game, four by the GreenJackets and two for the Intimidators and they all occurred on the first pitch of the given at-bat.

Jordan Cheatham led the Intimidators with four hits and was tied for the most RBI, three, with Daniel Wagner and runs scored, three, with Jose Vargas. Miguel Gonzalez, Nick Ciolli and Rafael Vera each had three hits and three more had two hits in the game.

For the GreenJackets, Anders led the team with five RBIs, Dominguez had four RBIs and Ryan Cavan had both four hits and four runs.

The Intimidators and especially the GreenJackets will look for strong outings from their starters on Monday at 7:05 pm as Matt Hopps looks to win the final game of the series as he will be opposed by Brian Irving.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 27, 2010


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