SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators Come from Behind for 9th Straight Win

Published on June 3, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (June 3, 2012) -- The Kannapolis Intimidators overcame an early 3-0 deficit en route to a 9-4 win over the Lakewood BlueClaws on Sunday evening at CMC-NorthEast Stadium, completing the series sweep and winning the team's ninth straight game.

Lakewood took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, but Kannapolis took advantage of converting them into six runs, including three of the four runs scored in the come-from-behind sixth inning. Kevan Smith mashed an opposite-field grand slam home run (3) to break the game open in the eighth.

Trailing 3-0, Ervis Manzanillo walked Smith to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Mark Haddow followed with a single, and Rangel Ravelo sacrificed the runners into scoring position. Hankerd walked to load the bases, and Smith scored on a wild pitch to put Kannapolis on the board. Bill Rice walked to load the bases, and Grant Buckner drove in Haddow on an infield single. Garis Pena's RBI-groundout tied the game, and Rice later scored on a passed ball for a 4-3 lead.

After a rough first inning, Intimidators starter Blair Walters (3-2) spun six scoreless frames to earn the win. He finished the night allowed three runs on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts in seven innings, equalling his longest outing of the season. Stew Brase entered a one-run game in the eighth inning and worked two innings for the save (1).

BlueClaws starter Ervis Manzanillo (0-4) limited the Intimidators to two hits over the first five innings before making it just one out into the sixth. He finished the night allowing four runs on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts in a loss.

Alejandro Villalobos led of the game with a single, and Aaron Altherr followed with a two-run home run to help the BlueClaws jump out to an early 3-0 lead after top of the first inning.

Kannapolis threatened in the third inning with runners in scoring position with one out, but Ervis Manzanillo struck out Keenyn Walker and -- after hitting a batter to load the bases -- induced a ground ball from Kevan Smith to end the inning.

Haddow led off the second inning with a single to right field to extend his hit streak to 16 games, tying the longest streak in the South Atlantic League this season. He finished the night 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Smith went 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored.

The Intimidators embark on a quick four-game road trip beginning with a day game at Hickory on Monday at 11 a.m. followed by three games in Hagerstown before returning to CMC-NorthEast Stadium on Friday, June 8. For ticket information, call the box office at (704) 932-3267 or visit www.IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 3, 2012


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