SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Lopez Earns First Win as Starter

August 9, 2013 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, NC - Adam Lopez worked a career-long 6.0 innings to earn his first win as a starter as the Kannapolis Intimidators dropped the Delmarva Shorebirds, 7-5, on Friday at CMC- NorthEast Stadium.

Lopez struck out eight batters, one shy of his career-high, en route to becoming the first Intimidators pitcher to eclipse the century mark in strikeouts this season. He leads the team with 104 whiffs on the year. Lopez (2-3) settled down after allowing a pair of first inning runs, blanking the Shorebirds from the second through sixth innings to secure his first career quality start. He had opened the season in the bullpen for Kannapolis.

Mike Marjama pulled the Intimidators ahead with a three-run home run (5) in the bottom of the first, driving in Jacob May and Jason Coats, who had drawn walks earlier in the inning. The launch to left field was Marjama's third go-ahead home run of the season. He finished 2- for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.

Shorebirds starter Matt Taylor (4-11) also settled down after a bumpy first inning featuring three walks. He too worked five scoreless innings from the second through sixth frames before leaving on the hook for a loss.

Kannapolis extended the lead in the seventh inning with a four-run frame. With runners on first and second, Tim Anderson singled a ball off pitcher Casey Upperman, driving home Cleuluis Rondon, and Jason Coats followed with a base hit up the middle to drive in May. Anderson and Coats would later come around to score for a 7-2 lead. May reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances, including a single, a walk and two hit-by-pitches. Coats finished 2- for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

The Shorebirds bounced back in the eighth off reliever Brad Goldberg, who had worked a perfect seventh inning. Torsten Boss led off with a ground-rule double, and Wynston Sawyer reached on an error by Coats. Lucas Herbst followed with a two-run triple to pull the 'Birds within two, 7-5.

J.B. Wendelken, whom the White Sox acquired last week in the deadline deal that sent Jake Peavy to the Red Sox, worked around a base hit for a scoreless ninth inning, securing his second save with Kannapolis.

The Intimidators and Shorebirds play Game 3 of this four-game series on Saturday at CMC-NorthEast Stadium as LHP Jefferson Olacio (5-10, 5.06) takes the mound for Kannapolis against Delmarva's RHP Parker Bridwell (7-9, 5.27). Saturday's game will be followed by fireworks, presented by CEENTA and Centralina Orthopaedic. For ticket and promotional information, fans can call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit intimidatorsbaseball.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 9, 2013


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