SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators Win Pitchers' Duel 2-1

Published on June 10, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


In a classic pitchers' duel, the Kannapolis Intimidators and Joe Serafin defeated the Asheville Tourists and Chris Balcom-Miller by the score of 2-1 in less than two hours. The big hit of the game for the Intimidators came off the bat of Jordan Cheatham in the seventh.

The game started quick as both pitchers were rolling through two. The Tourists (25-35) though got on the board in the third off Serafin (6-3) as Orlando Sandoval had a hustle double, reaching third on a throwing error and scoring on an infield single by the next hitter Elizer Mesa to give the Tourists a 1-0 lead. The run was unearned against Serafin who went eight innings, allowed just five hits, one walk while striking out five.

In the sixth inning, it had appeared the Tourists had taken a 2-0 lead, but with a runner on third and one out, Joe Sanders hit a shallow fly ball to left, scoring Sandoval from third by a sacrifice fly. However, it was ruled that Sandoval left early, leading to the Intimidators (29-31) doubleing him off third. This was the best outing for Serafin this season as he becomes the first Intimidators pitcher to six wins.

Balcom-Miller, a highly rated prospect for the Colorado Rockies, looked great through seven innings, allowing only one hit, a dribbler off the bat of Daniel Wagner in the third. However, in the seventh, he hit Kyle Colligan to lead off the inning getting hit in the back and went to first base. Balcom-Miller (0-3) then got Ian Gac to strike out before allowing a single to Nick Ciolli to put runners on first and second with one down. Another strikeout and there were two down before Cheatham laced a 3-2 pitch with two outs to the wall in right field for what proved to be the game-winning double in the seventh inning.

Brandon Kloess, two days after picking up his first loss of the season in a blow save, lit up the radar gun with his fastball and struck out two, allowed a weakly hit single and got cleanup hitter Jared Clark to dribble the ball in front of home plate for the final out. The save is his team-leading sixth of the season.

Balcom-Miller was the tough-luck loser going seven innings, allowing three hits and two runs without walking a batter and striking out eight.

The three-game series will continue on Friday at 7:05 pm as the Intimidators need six wins in their last nine to finish the first half above .500. Fresh off a scoreless outing, Andre Rienzo will take to the hill for Kannapolis. Rienzo will be opposed by Jonathan Vargas who was tagged in his last outing against the Intimidators this season.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 10, 2010


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