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SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Hickory Homers Early, Edges I's in Extra Inning

April 23, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


HICKORY, N.C. (April 23, 2015) - Hickory Crawdads' center fielder Jose Cardona came through with a 2-out game-winning hit in the bottom of the 10th to drop the Kannapolis Intimidators, 3-2, on Thursday at L.P. Frans Stadium. Luke Tendler led off the 10th with a base hit and moved to third on a sac-bunt and a groundnut. Cardona blooped the first pitch he saw from reliever Brad Salgado into shallow right field to plate Tendler and end the game.

Crawdads reliever Jefri Hernandez (1-0) notched the win with a pair of scoreless innings on the mound while Salgado (0-1) suffered the loss.

Kannapolis (6-8) trailed since the first inning before finally tying it up in the eighth. Hickory reliever Chris Dula plunked Chris Curley to lead off the frame. Louie Lechich moved Curley into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Toby Thomas singled up the middle to cash Curley, tying the game, 2-2.

Hickory opened the scoring with a pair of early home runs. After Kannapolis starting pitcher Spencer Adams struck out the first two batters he faced, Ronald Guzman lined a 2-out home run (3) over the wall in right field for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Tripp Martin led off the bottom of the second inning with a home run (3) to increase the Crawdads lead, 2-0.

James Baldwin, who joined the Kannapolis roster on Monday, took his turn by leading off the top of the third with a solo bomb (2) to put the Intimidators on the board. Baldwin's first two hits of the season have both been home runs.

Kannapolis starter Spencer Adams tossed a season-high 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five and walking one.

Crawdads' starting pitcher Luis Ortiz worked 4 and 2/3 innings before reaching his pitch limit. He allowed a run on five hits while striking out six and walking one.

The Intimidators had a chance to steal the lead in the top of the seventh, loading the bases against Crawdad's reliever Kevin Matthews with one out. Hickory turned to former Catawba College pitcher Chris Dula, who came in to record the final two outs of the inning, stranding three Intimidators on base and holding the lead, 2-1.

Thursday's game in Hickory began after a 92 minute delay due to a burst water pipe underneath the warning track on the first base line.

The Intimidators had three men ejected over the course of the ninth and 10th innings by home plate umpire Jacob Metz. Christian Stringer was tossed in the ninth after a strikeout, while hitting coach Robert Sasser was ejected int the top of the 10th during a Chris Curley at-bat. Curley made it a hat-trick for Metz after he struck out.

The Intimidators continue this 4-game series in Hickory on Friday as RHP Yelmison Peralta (0-2, 8.00) takes the ball for Kannapolis against Crawdads' RHP Reed Garrett (0-1, 7.88). The Intimidators return home to CMC-NorthEast Stadium for a 7-game home stand against the Greenville Drive (Red Sox) and Rome Braves (Atlanta Braves) starting Tuesday, April 28. For tickets 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 April 23, 2015


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