SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Simon Leads Intimidators Rally to Dim Suns

Published on August 31, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


HAGERSTOWN, Md. (August 31, 2015) -Alexander Simon drove in two runs as the Intimidators rallied for a 6-4 win over the Suns on Monday at Hagerstown's Municipal Stadium. Kannapolis (28-34-1 Second Half, 63-68-1) matched its longest winning streak of the season with its fourth consecutive victory, clinching a series win over the Suns in the process by taking the first three games of the set.

With the Suns up 4-1 through five innings, Kannapolis rallied for the lead with two runs in the sixth and seventh. In the sixth, the Intimidators loaded the bases against starting pitcher Connor Bach, chasing him from the game. Louie Lechich scored on a double play, and Cody Daily added a two-out double to cash Simon to pull Kannapolis within a run, 4-3.

In the seventh, Hunter Jones drew a walk, stole second base, and scored the tying run on a Lechich base hit. Simon followed with a double to center field, scoring Lechich for a 5-4 lead. Simon finished the game 2-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Daily went 2-4 with an RBI while Jones went 2-3 with two walks, two stolen bases, and a pair of runs scored.

Kannapolis tacked on an insurance run in the ninth when Ryan Plourde led off with a base hit and later scored on a Suns error.

Jacob Morris (5-3) earned the win with 1 and 1/3 scoreless relief innings. Ryan Riga, the White Sox 13th round pick in the June 2015 First-Year Player Draft, closed the game with 2 and 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first professional save (1). Riga struck out three along the way.

Hagerstown reliever Tommy Peterson (0-1) took the loss in his Class A debut.

The Suns built an early lead thanks to a pair of Jose Marmolejos-Diaz sacrifice flies, scoring Andrew Stephenson in the first inning and Austin Davidson in the third. Hagerstown extended its lead to 3-1 in the fourth inning when Bryan Mejia tripled, and Matthew Page followed with a run-scoring single.

Jones helped put Kannapolis on the board in the third inning. He singled, stole second base, advanced to third on a ground out and broke for home on an Simon grounder back to the pitcher, sliding home under the tag of catcher Matt Reistetter.

The Intimidators and Suns continue this five-game series on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. as RHP Zach Thomason (3-6, 4.09 ERA) takes the mound against Hagerstown's RHP Andrew Lee (3-0, 0.41). The Intimidators return to Kannapolis on Thursday, Sept. 3, for the final five games of the 2015 season against the West Virginia Power. 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 31, 2015


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