SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators Lose Lead Late to Crawdads

Published on June 11, 2016 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Despite leading for much of the game Saturday night at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System the Kannapolis Intimidators fell to the Hickory Crawdads, 7-5. Kannapolis (23-39) tallied 10 hits for the 18th time this season, but a crowd of 2,691 saw a late Crawdads (36-25) comeback take the win.

Johan Cruz slugged his third home run of the season for Kannapolis in a break out night at the plate. Cruz went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, and three RBI.

The Intimidators jumped out to an early lead on Cruz first hit of the night, an RBI double to right in the first.

In the top of the third Hickory tied the game on an Eric Jenkins sacrifice fly to center.

Cruz broke the tie with two-run, line drive, home run to left in the bottom of the fifth that scored Landon Lassiter.

Hickory had difficulty solving Intimidators start Brannon Easterling. Over four innings Easterling allowed just one run in his second start of the season.

The Crawdads faired far better against the Intimidators bullpen. They scored one run in the sixth off Tanner Mendonca and broke out for five more runs over the seventh and eighth innings against Yelmison Peralta and Jack Charleston. Peralta (0-3) was hung with the loss, allowing two runs in 1 and 1/3 innings of bullpen work.

Kannapolis produced little against Crawdad reliever Adam Choplick (2-0), but began to test their bullpen with runs in the eighth and ninth innings. John Werner relieved former Intimidator Matt Ball in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the win for the Crawdads. Werner stranded the tying run at first to earn his sixth save of the season and second of the series.

The Intimidators wrap up this 4-game series against the Crawdads on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. as Kannapolis sends RHP Luis Martinez (1-5, 4.74 ERA) to the mound against Hickory's RHP Pedro Payano (1-2, 1.47 ERA). The 7-game home stand will come to an end with the second Bark in the Park of the season presented by South Ridge Veterinary Hospital on Sunday. It will also be Kid's Day at the ballpark with a pregame autograph party and postgame kids run the bases presented by Cornerstone Church. For tickets and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office or 704-932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 11, 2016


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