Kannapolis drops 3-2 heartbreaker to Lakewood

May 15, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release

KANNAPOLIS, NC - Charlie Leesman had the start of his professional career on Friday night at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium but saw it go to waste in a 3-2 Kannapolis loss to Lakewood.

Leesman retired the first 20 batters that he faced spanning 6 2/3 innings. The Intimidators southpaw did not allow a baserunner until Travis d'Arnaud's bloop single to centerfield with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Leesman also struck out nine without walking a batter in his 7 2/3 innings, the longest outing for any Kannapolis pitcher this season.

But the Intimidators offense did not fare much better than Lakewood's and took just a 2-1 lead going to the ninth inning. Charlis Burdie, in trying to close out the game, walked the leadoff hitter before getting two straight outs. But Jim Murphy slugged a two-out, two-run home run off of Burdie (1-3) to give Lakewood their first lead of the game.

B.J. Rosenberg (3-1) struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth for the win.

Kannapolis scored first against Heitor Correa with a single run in the sixth to take an early lead. Correa, like Leesman, had his best start of the season, giving up one run in seven innings of work. He only allowed four hits and struck out three.

Lakewood (19-14) scored their only run of the game off of Leesman in the eighth, though it was unearned. With two outs, Jon Gilmore threw a ball away off the bat of Sebastian Valle. Tyson Corley entered the ballgame for Leesman and gave up an infield single to Troy Hanzawa that allowed Valle to score from second.

Kannapolis (17-17) retook the lead in the bottom of the eighth off of Rosenberg on an RBI single from Eduardo Escobar.

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