CarL Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Kannapolis Takes Two in Salem, Back Home for Nine Games

July 19, 2022 - Carolina League (CarL)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - In the first trip to Salem, Virginia in Kannapolis baseball history, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers picked up two victories against the Salem Red Sox at Salem Memorial Ballpark last week.

With the two wins, Kannapolis moves to 13-8, still tied with the Columbia Fireflies for first place in the second half of the Carolina League South Division.

DJ KEEPS THE TABLES TURNING

DJ Gladney continued his hot stretch at the plate in Salem, tallying two doubles and a triple to lead the team in total bases with 10. In his last 10 games, Gladney is batting .297 with six extra-base hits and six RBI. The fan favorite leads the team with 15 home runs and 51 RBI on the season.

A TRUE TEAM EFFORT

No Ballers pitcher individually allowed more than three runs in any outing against the Red Sox, highlighted by shutouts from RHPs Hunter Dollander, Liam Jenkins, and Jesus Valles. Dollander struck out seven in his four innings of work, continuing his hot start to 2022. One final stat of note; of all six starters for Kannapolis against the Red Sox, all starters tossed at least 3.1 innings. LHP Brooks Gosswein threw a team-high six innings in his start, walking just one and striking out three.

A LACK OF LONG BOMBS

Salem Memorial Ballpark is a difficult field to consistently show off a power bat. Despite the tall walls and deep distances, the Red Sox still remain in fourth place in the Carolina League with 71 home runs. In the six-game series between Kannapolis and Salem, the two sides combined for just two home runs, one for each side. C Victor Torres tallied the only home run of the week for the Ballers, with Red Sox top prospect Marcelo Mayer adding the lone Red Sox homer of the week.

ON TO THE NEXT

The Woodpeckers, Low-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, enter a short three-game set with the Cannon Ballers on the heels of the All-Star Break and a visit to Myrtle Beach. Fayetteville won the first two, but dropped the final four matchups with the Pelicans, falling to 6-14, worst in the Carolina League in the second half.

Fayetteville and Kannapolis have played the most games against each other than any other opponent for either team, with the Woodpeckers holding a 12-9 record in 2022 against the Ballers. Last time the two sides faced off in Kannapolis, Fayetteville rattled off six victories in a series sweep.

Fayetteville holds three of the top 30 prospects in the Houston Astros system in RHP Alex Santos (No. 9), OF Tyler Whitaker (No. 10), and OF Logan Cerny (No. 24).

Santos owns one of the toughest records of any primary starter in the Carolina League with an 0-8 record. The New York, New York native has struck out at least seven in four of his 17 appearances in 2022. Whitaker leads the entire Carolina League with 126 strikeouts, batting just .164 in his first season of full-season baseball. Finally, Cerny leads all Woodpecker batters with 14 home runs and 49 RBI, tied for seventh place in the Carolina League with 28 stolen bases.

The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers return home after the road trip to Salem and a four-day All-Star break for a nine game homestand, beginning July 22-24 with three games against the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Low-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, followed by a six-game set July 26-31 with the Columbia Fireflies, Low-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Following the home stand, Kannapolis will head out on the road August 2-7 for a six-game set with the Carolina Mudcats, Low-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Tickets can be purchased for any upcoming home games at kcballers.com or at the F&M Bank Box Office located at Atrium Health Ballpark. Fans can also keep up with the action on the team's social media outlets, with live in-game updates being provided on Twitter at @kcannonballers. All Cannon Ballers home games, as well as select road games, will have a free audio broadcast on kcballers.com, with all home games also being broadcasted on MiLB.tv.

Check out the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Statistics



Carolina League Stories from July 19, 2022


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