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SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators Sweep Columbia

August 2, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Kannapolis Intimidators (21-20, 49-60) gave up just two runs over 13 innings, saw Romy Gonzalez get four total hits, and swept the doubleheader on Friday against the Columbia Fireflies (16-25, 40-67), winning 6-4 and 3-1.

Game 1

The first inning, which took place on Thursday night, was quite eventful.

Colombia used five hits in the top of the first off Bernardo Flores, in one of his first starts back from injury, to put up three runs to start the game.

It didn't take long for the Intimidators to even things back up. Ian Dawkins led off the game with his team-leading 31st double, followed by Camilo Quinteiro drawing a walk. Lenyn Sosa then came up and hit his fifth homer of the season to tie the score at 3-3.

Over the next couple frames, neither side was able to get any runs across, and with one out in the bottom of the third, the game was delayed due to rain.

When the game resumed on Friday at 5:00 p.m., a pitcher's duel started. Devon Perez (W, 1-2) began the game on the mound for Kannapolis, while Willy Taveras (5-10) toed for Columbia.

Both sides were held at bay until the Intimidators were able to breakthrough in the bottom of the sixth. On a 3-2 count, Amado Nunez singled to left field and scored Romy Gonzalez and Cameron Simmons to take a 5-3 lead.

Meanwhile, Perez continued pitching a gem through the top of the eighth. His final line read five innings, no hits, no runs, and four strikeouts.

In the bottom of the eighth, Kannapolis got an insurance run after Gonzalez came in to score on a double play to extend the lead to 6-3.

Austin Conway (S, 7) came in to finish things off in the top of the ninth. Despite the Fireflies managing to get one back off a sac fly in the inning, Conway got the save and helped the Intimidators to the 6-4 win.

Game 2

Just like the middle part of the first game, much of game two started as a pitcher's duel between Sam Long and Colin Holderman. Through the first three innings, the two sides combined for just one hit, and had yet to get any runs across.

In the top of the fourth, an early error to start the inning opened the door for Columbia. Ronny Mauricio, who reached on the error, eventually was driven in on a groundout later in the inning to give the Fireflies the 1-0 lead.

The struggles at the plate in the game continued for the Intimidators into the bottom of the fifth inning. They had yet to get a hit with one out in the inning, but picked the perfect for their first. Amado Nunez launched a solo shot (7) onto the visitor's clubhouse in left field to the game, 1-1.

Sam Long went on to pitch six solid innings on the bump for manager Ryan Newman. He gave up just three hits, no earned runs, and had five strikeouts with no walks. J.B. Olson received the first and only call out of the bullpen in the seventh.

In the bottom of the sixth, Ian Dawkins drew a walk to start off the frame. That was followed by a sac bunt by Camilo Quinteiro, but the throw to first got away from Columbia's pitcher and allowed Dawkins to advance to third and Quinteiro to second. Romy Gonzalez took advantage of the runner's in scoring position and drove both in with a single up the middle to take a 3-1 lead.

Since the game was the second half of a doubleheader, there were just seven innings to be played. Olson pitched a perfect top of the seventh to help give the Intimidators the game and series win over the Fireflies, 3-1.

Kannapolis will continue their homestand as the Lexington Legends come into town to begin a four-game series on Saturday night.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 2, 2019


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