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SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Leonards Smashes Slam as I's Put Drive in Park

June 2, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


GREENVILLE, S.C. (June 2, 2015) - Ryan Leonards smashed his first career grand slam in the seventh inning as the Intimidators went on to defeat the Drive, 9-4, on Tuesday at Fluor Field in Greenville. Kannapolis (25-27) had not hit a home run in its last 17 games until Leonards broke the slump with the 24th slam in Intimidators history.

Leonards, who had never driven in more than two runs in a game in his career, finished the night 1-for-2 with two runs scored and five RBI - equalling the most by an Intimidator in a single game this season.

Kannapolis scored nine runs in the game, eight of them unearned thanks to four Greenville errors.

Spencer Adams (2-3) notched the win, tossing 5 and 2/3 innings and limiting Greenville to one run - a Mike Meyers home run - on six hits with five strikeouts and a walk.

The Intimidators capitalized on a pair of early Drive errors to build a 4-0 lead over the first three innings. In the second, Leonards reached base on an error to open the inning, and Mason Robbins doubled him over to third base. A wild pitch by Drive starter Michael Kopech brought in Leonards for the game's first run, and Eddy Alvarez doubled the lead to 2-0 with a base hit to chase Kopech from the game after 1 and 2/3 innings.

Kannapolis doubled its lead to 4-0 in the third when Nick Basto followed a Drive error by smashing a single to centerfield, scoring Christian Stringer, and Leonards' sac-fly to right field scored Louie Lechich.

Kopech (2-3), a supplemental first round pick (33rd overall) by the Red Sox in the June 2014 First-Year Player Draft, gave up two unearned runs on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk in the loss.

With the Intimidators up 4-1, Leonards stepped to the plate with bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning. He turned on a Williams Jerez offering and crushed it to left-center field for his first home run (1) of the season and third of his career.

The Drive chipped away at the Intimidators lead with three runs with no outs off Jefferson Olacio in the eighth, but Tanner Banks put a stop to the Greenville rally with a double play and a strikeout to get out of the inning. In the ninth, Matt Cooper struck out the side in a perfect frame to lock down the victory.

Kannapolis wraps up this three-game series against the Drive on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. when RHP Yelmison Peralta (2-4, 8.01 ERA) faces Greenville's RHP Reed Reilly (3-2, 4.17 ERA) in the series rubber match. The Intimidators return home on Thursday, June 4, for a four-game series against Delmarva at Intimidators Stadium presented by Carolinas HealthCare System. For tickets and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

Check out the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from June 2, 2015


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