SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Zangari's Bomb Helps Blow Away GreenJackets

Published on April 26, 2016 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


AUGUSTA, Ga. - Corey Zangari launched his team-leading fourth home run which proved to be the difference as the Intimidators swatted the GreenJackets, 7-5, on Tuesday at Lake Olmstead Stadium. The 18-year-old first baseman belted a 3-run home run (4) in the top of the seventh to give Kannapolis a 4-run lead.

Grant Massey finished 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs scored to pace the Intimidators offense while Dante Flores drove in two runs in his Class A debut.

Tanner Banks (4-0) earned his fourth straight win to open the season, tossing 6 and 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on three hits with two walks and a career-high-tying six strikeouts. Banks retired 11 straight GreenJackets at one point, from the third through sixth innings. Taylore Cherry pitched the final 2 and 2/3 innings for Kannapolis, giving up an unearned run on one hit while striking out four to earn the save (1).

Augusta starter Michael Santos (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and a walk over 6.0 innings. Tyler Cyr gave up three runs in two-thirds of an innings, allowing a pair of hits and the Zangari home run before being lifted from the game for Matt Pope.

With the game tied, 3-3, Flores put Kannapolis back in front in the sixth with a two-out double off the wall in right field that scored Massey from first base for a 4-3 lead. Flores, whom the White Sox selected in the 18th round of the June 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of USC, finished his Class A debut 2-3 with a double and two RBI. Zangari added his no-doubt bomb to left field, a three-run blast, in the top of the seventh to push the Intimidators further ahead, 7-3.

Kannapolis claimed an early when Tyler Sullivan led off the game with a base hit, stole second base, and scored on a Seby Zavala RBI-single to left field. The Intimidators doubled their lead in the second inning as Massey led off with a double and scored on Flores' groundout for a 2-0 advantage.

Augusta's Lucius Fox undid the Intimidators early lead with a 3-run home run in the bottom of the third. The Giants prospect turned on a 1-2 pitch from Tanner Banks and deposited it beyond the left-field wall for his second career home run (2), scoring Matt Pare and Zach Bowers.

The Intimidators tied the game the following half-inning as Massey once again led off with a double, Cleuluis Rondon brought him in with an RBI-groundout to even the score, 3-3.

The Intimidators continue this 3-game series on Wednesday at 10:35 a.m. against the GreenJackets as Kannapolis sends LHP Johnathan Frebis (2-1, 4.80 ERA) to the mound against Augusta's RHP Phil Bickford (1-2, 5.27 ERA). The team returns to Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System on Wednesday, May 4, to open a 7-game home stand against the Hagerstown Suns (May 4-6) and Lakewood BlueClaws (May 7-10). For tickets and promotional information, call the F&M Bank Box Office or visit IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 26, 2016


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