
Playoff Hopes In Doubt After Loss To Kannapolis
September 2, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
Kannapolis, NC (September 2, 2009) - The Kannapolis Intimidators knocked their magic number down to 2 on Wednesday night at FieldCrest Cannon Stadium as they used a 16 hit attack in the second game of the series to defeat the West Virginia Power 5-1.
West Virginia was held to just six hits on the night, and only three players hit safely. They scored their lone run in the top of the sixth inning when Kyle Morgan's base hit scored Robbie Grossman. Kannapolis built a 2-0 before Morgan's run scoring single in the sixth. Aaron Pribanic retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the first but then surrendered three straight hits, including an RBI double to Jon Gilmore which gave the I's an early lead. They added to it in the bottom of the fifth inning when Brandon Short's groundout scored Dan Black.
Kannapolis delivered the knockout punch with two outs in the seventh inning when Luis Sierra belted a two-run homer off of Gabriel Alvarado. The homer was Sierra's third hit of the game. In the eighth inning Black struck again with a run scoring single to plate the final run of the night.
Nevin Griffith (4-5) was outstanding through seven incredible innings. He held the Power to just a run on five hits and struck out two batters in a winning effort. Dan Remenowsky (23) tossed a pair of scoreless innings to earn the save. Aaron Pribanic (3-2) allowed just a pair of runs on 12 hits over five and two-thirds and was tagged with the loss. West Virginia is now four games behind Kannapolis with five games remaining. The Intimidators can clinch the division with a victory over the Power on Thursday night.
West Virginia fell to 64-68 overall, and 37-25 in the second half after the loss, while the Intimidators improved to 79-55 overall and 42-22 in the second half after the win. Robbie Grossman and Kyle Morgan did most of the damage offensively. Grossman paced the Power with a 3-for-4 performance while Morgan went 2-for-3 and extended his hitting streak to seven games. Tony Sanchez extended his on base streak to 18 games with a walk in the fourth inning and Bobby Spain singled in the ninth inning to extend his hitting streak to ten games.
West Virginia will finish the three game series with the Kannapolis Intimidators at FieldCrest Cannon Stadium on Thursday night. The Power will start right hander Quinton Miller (2-3, 4.83) and the Intimidators will counter with left hander Joe Serafin (3-1, 2.80). The first pitch will be delivered at 7:05 PM.
South Atlantic League Stories from September 2, 2009
- Drive Head in Reverse Against Hot Rods, Lose 7-3 - Greenville Drive
- 'Hoppers escape Hickory with 6-3 win - Hickory Crawdads
- BlueClaws Lose Home Finale - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Scelfo Powers Hot Rods Past Drive 7-3 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Kannapolis comes closer with 5-1 win over West Virginia - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Late-Game Heroics Lift Suns To Series Victory Over Lakewood - Hagerstown Suns
- Playoff Hopes In Doubt After Loss To Kannapolis - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Cesario Smashes Asheville To Victory - Asheville Tourists
- Tourists score four in eighth, beat Legends 6-2 - Lexington Legends
- Charleston Pitching Outlasts Braves - Rome Emperors
- Dannemiller Lands Female Executive Of Year Award - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- RiverDogs Conquer Rome Again, 4-0, In 13 Innings - Charleston RiverDogs
- Runzler Gets Call to the Big Leagues - Augusta GreenJackets
- Suns Saving Their Best For Last Homestand Of 2009 - Hagerstown Suns
- Ratliff, Satin Promoted To St. Lucie - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Walk-Off Win Propels GreenJackets To Sweep Of Gnats - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park's Field Selected Best in South Atlantic League - Charleston RiverDogs
- Logan County Little League Honored by Hot Rods - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Monell's Two Home Runs Keep Jackets in Chase - Augusta GreenJackets
- Fan Appreciation Night Tonight, Roof-man and Playoffs Next Week - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Norris and Lombardozzi Selected to South Atlantic League Post-Season All-Star Team - Hagerstown Suns
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
