SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Michalczewski's walk-off sac-fly caps comeback

Published on May 18, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (May 18, 2014) - The Kannapolis Intimidators overcame a late 2-run deficit to force extra-innings before eventually defeating the Hickory Crawdads, 6-5, in 10 innings on Sunday at CMC-NorthEast Stadium. Trey Michalczewski completed the comeback with a sac-fly to center field, scoring Cleuluis Rondon for the game-winning run.

Trailing 5-3 since the fifth inning, the Intimidators left the bases loaded in the seventh before finally chipping away at the deficit in the eighth. Jeremy Dowdy led off with a base hit, one of his three on the day, and later scored on a Danny Hayes bases-loaded walk - the third walk issued by Hickory in the inning - to pull the Intimidators within a run, 5-4. Kannapolis left the bases loaded in the eighth as well.

In the ninth, Dowdy followed Zach Voight's 1-out double with a single up the middle to bring the tying run home. After T.J. Williams drew a walk, pushing the winning run into scoring position, Kale Kiser grounded into an inning-ending double play, taking the game into extras.

Rondon reached on a bunt-single with one out and moved into scoring position on a Hayes single. Jacob Morris drew a walk, the ninth free pass of the day for Kannapolis, to push Rondon to third, setting up Michalczewski's game-winning fly ball.

Dowdy finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Hayes bounced back from a rough start, which included three fielding errors, to go 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Jordan Guerrero made the comeback possible, working 3.0 scoreless innings to pick up the win. Guerrero (2-0) took over the eighth and allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out three. Hickory's Ryne Slack (2-1) gave up the tying and winning runs over 2.0 innings of relief work, taking the loss by allowing two runs on four hits while walking three.

Starter Robinson Leyer tossed 5.0 innings for Kannapolis, allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits. He struck out two and walked one while taking no decision. Andrew Mitchell worked 2.0 scoreless, hitless innings out of the bullpen, walking three and striking out two.

Chad Bell made a rehab start for the Crawdads, working 3.0 innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits. Bell, who last pitched for Triple-A Round Rock in 2012 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2013, finished with three strikeouts and two walks.

Kannapolis took a 2-1 lead in the second inning when Jacob Morris scored on a Travis Demeritte error, and Dowdy followed with an RBI-single to bring home Michalczewski. The Crawdads jumped back in front with a 3-run third inning, aided by a pair of Hayes errors and an Evan Van Hoosier RBI-double.

Hickory's Joe Jackson, the great-great-great nephew of Shoeless Joe Jackson, finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.

The Intimidators and Crawdads play Game 3 of this 4-game series on Monday at 7:05 p.m. For ticket and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 18, 2014


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