SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Olympian Helps Intimidators Skate Past Rome

Published on August 28, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Olympic silver medalist Eddy Alvarez proved golden again for the Intimidators in Thursday's 7-5 win over the Rome Braves at CMC-NorthEast Stadium. The short-track speed-skater drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Intimidators overcame a late blown lead for a series-clinching win over Rome.

Alvarez, who won a silver medal in the 5,000-meter relay - one of his four events during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, finished the night 3-for-4 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. The switch-hitter has now hit safely in 13 of 14 games with Kannapolis and raised his average to .483 (28-58) since his promote from the AZL White Sox. Left fielder Mike Danner chipped with a pair of RBI, going 2-for-3 with a triple.

The Intimidators erupted for four runs in the bottom of the seventh off reliever Matt Kimbrel, the younger brother of Atlanta Braves pitcher Craig Kimbrel, to bounce back from a late blown lead against Rome. Toby Thomas began the rally with a leadoff double. Three batters later, Danner drove in Thomas with a base hit to right field to tie the game, 4-4. Alvarez followed with a ground ball that scored Danner for the go-ahead run. Christian Stringer and Danny Hayes capped the inning with back-to-back RBI-doubles for a 7-4 lead.

Dylan Chavez worked a perfect eighth and gave up just one run in the ninth, using a double play to expedite the fall of Rome. Chavez earned the save (3) while Andrew Mitchell (4-3) picked up a relief win despite a rough outing.

Rome overcame a 3-0 deficit with four straight runs over the sixth and seventh innings. Jacob Schrader opened the rally with a 2-out solo home run (11) off Andre Wheeler in the sixth, Schrader's second home run in as many nights.

Wheeler took no decision in what was likely his final appearance of the season. He limited the Braves to a run on two hits while striking out seven over 6.0 innings.

In the seventh, Mitchell walked the first three batters to load the bases before inducing a run-scoring double-play, which cut the Kannapolis lead to 3-2. Cody Livesay followed with a game-tying RBI-single, and Connor Oliver pulled the Braves in front, 4-3, with a triple to cash Livesay.

Alvarez led off the first inning with a base hit and later crossed the plate on a Jacob Morris RBI-groundout for a 1-0 lead. The Intimidators tacked on two runs in the second inning on a Danner triple to score Ryan Leonards. Alvarez followed with a base hit to cash Danny for a 3-0 lead.

The Intimidators begin the final series of the 2014 season on Friday when the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins) come to town for the first of four games. Friday night's game is the final Legends Series card giveaway, featuring 1997 Piedmont Boll Weevils shortstop and 2007 NL MVP Jimmy Rollins (first 1,000 fans). 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 August 28, 2014


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