Martinez Pitches Intimidators to Shutout Win

Published on July 27, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (July 27, 2015) - Luis Martinez spun a career-high eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball to pitch the Intimidators to a 1-0 win over the BlueClaws on Monday night at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood. Kannapolis (16-15 Second Half, 51-49) earned its South Atlantic League-leading 13th shutout win of the season.

Martinez (4-9) became just the fourth Kannapolis pitcher to work at least eight complete innings, surpassing his previous career-long outing of 6 and 2/3 on May 2, on his way to earning the win. He allowed just two hits - both singles - while walking one and striking out four. Matt Cooper tossed a perfect ninth inning for the save (10).

Kannapolis broke a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning when Alexander Simon led off with a double to right field, and Toby Thomas drove him home with a two-out triple to the right-center field gap for a 1-0 lead.

Lakewood's starting pitcher Tyler Viza (4-6) suffered the hard-luck loss, working all nine innings and allowing a run on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Viza became the first BlueClaws arm since Lisalverto Bonilla on July 6, 2011, to toss a 9-inning complete game.

The game took place in one hour, 58 minutes - the fastest 9-inning game the Intimidators have played this season.

The Intimidators wrap up this four-game series in Lakewood on Tuesday at 11:05 a.m. as RHP Yency Almonte (7-4, 4.05 ERA) takes the mound for the Intimidators against the BlueClaws RHP Ranfi Casimiro (6-5, 3.23 ERA). Kannapolis returns to Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System on Thursday, July 30. For ticket and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

South Atlantic League Stories from July 27, 2015

• Shorebirds Bounce Back with Big 2nd Inning - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Delmarva Snaps GreenJackets Streak - Augusta GreenJackets
• Hickory Overcomes Early Deficit, Wins 4-2 - Lexington Legends
• Power Double up Suns 4-2 - Hagerstown Suns
• Howard Goes the Distance, Blanks Braves 2-0 - Asheville Tourists
• Power Tops Suns behing Brewer, Suchy - Charleston Dirty Birds
• BlueClaws Fall 1-0 on Mustache Night - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Martinez Pitches Intimidators to Shutout Win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• GreenJackets Sam Coonrod Named SAL Pitcher of the Week - Augusta GreenJackets
• Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame to Induct Three New Members on August 8 - Charleston RiverDogs
• John Mora Named SAL Player of the Week - Savannah Sand Gnats
• WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
• 'Dads Make It Four Straight with Wild 11-4 Victory - Hickory Crawdads

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