SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Thomore's grand slam runs win streak to 8

Published on July 2, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Carl Thomore's second inning grand slam paved the way for the Kannapolis Intimidators' eighth straight win, 6-4, against the Delmarva Shorebirds on Wednesday at CMC-NorthEast Stadium. Kannapolis (40-41, 10-3 Second Half) clinched a series victory with the win and will play for a sweep on Thursday against Delmarva.

Thad Lowry (4-4) matched his career-high with 6.0 innings of work, limiting the Shorebirds to one unearned run on four hits with five strikeouts to earn the win.

Danny Hayes led off the second with a double, and Jacob Morris singled behind him. Brett Austin was hit by a pitch to load the bases, bringing Thomore to the plate with bases loaded in a scoreless game. He smashed a 2-2- pitch over the wall in left-center field for the Intimidators grand slam since Adam Heisler hit one on Aug. 13, 2013.

Ryan Leonards, who joined Kannapolis from Advanced Rookie Great Falls earlier in the day, led off the bottom of the fifth inning with his first professional home run for a 5-1 lead. Leonards, the White Sox 21st round pick in the June 2014 First-Year Player Draft, took the roster spot of shortstop Cleuluis Rondon, whom the Sox promoted to Class A-Advanced Winston-Salem.

Adam Engel followed Leonards' home run with a triple before scoring on a Christian Stringer sac-fly for a 6-1 lead.

Brad Salgado made his Class A debut, pitching 2.0 scoreless relief innings and striking out two batters.

In the ninth, Delmarva rallied for three runs, highlighted by a Conor Bierfeldt 2-run double. Bierfeldt later scored from second base on a wild pitch when both the pitcher and catcher chased after the ball into foul territory, leaving home plate uncovered.

Shorebirds starter Steven Brault (7-5) gave up six runs on seven hits over 4 and 1/3 innings while striking out eight in a losing effort.

The eight-game winning streak is the longest for Kannapolis since the Intimidators won nine in a row from May 25 through June 3, 2012.

The Intimidators wrap up this 3-game series on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. followed by an All-American fireworks show set to patriotic music, presented by the City of Kannapolis and Centralina Orthopaedic. 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 July 2, 2014


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