SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

I's Drop Last Game of Series to Hagerstown, 2-0

Published on May 7, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


The Kannapolis Intimidators lost a close one to Hagerstown, 2-0, Monday morning at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health, as Kade McClure (L, 3-1) suffered his first loss of the season despite both runs being unearned.

The I's threatened in the first against Tomas Alastre (W, 1-1), as Laz Rivera was hit by a pitch with one out, followed by a Craig Dedelow single and an Anthony Villa walk, bringing up Tate Blackman with bases loaded. The former Ole Miss Rebel struck out with three ducks on the pond, followed by a six-pitch at-bat that saw Justin Yurchak ground out to first base to end the early threat for Kannapolis.

In the second, McClure picked up his third and fourth strikeouts of the afternoon, while catcher Evan Skoug threw a runner out at second, keeping the game scoreless through two innings between the Suns and Intimidators.

Kannapolis threatened again in the fourth with their high-powered offense that currently leads the South Athletic League in batting (.280), as Yurchak picked up an infield single to short, bringing up Skoug. The TCU alumnus walked after a seven-pitch at-bat, as the former Gonzaga outfielder, Tyler Frost, was next up for Kannapolis. While the right fielder was at the plate, Yurchak and Skoug moved up 90 feet to second and third after a failed back-pick from catcher Jeyner Baez to first, giving the I's their best to chance to score since the first. With only out, Alastre got out of the jam with a pop up from Frost and a Nolan Brown groundout to first base to keep the game scoreless going into the fifth inning.

In the fifth, Nick Banks reached on a fielding error from Blackman at second base, followed by a Baez walk to put runners at first and second. With Kameron Esthay at the plate, a double steal was executed by Banks and Baez, putting two runners in scoring position for the Suns' left fielder. On the third pitch of his at-bat, Esthay hit a sharp groundball to Blackman at second, who came home with the ball, with the ball popping in and out of Skoug's glove at the plate, giving Hagerstown the 1-0 lead.

The Suns were not done just yet in the fifth, as Jack Sunberg used a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt down the first base line to bring in the second run of the inning, both being unearned for McClure.

The Intimidators had two runners get on base in the sixth and seventh innings but failed to manufacture any runs, dropping the fourth game of the series 2-0. Despite the loss, the I's won the first three games of the series to capture their second straight series win at home and improve to 15-3 at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health.

Kannapolis will have Tuesday off before they head to Greenville to take on the Drive for a three-game series.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 7, 2018


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