Cannon Ballers Squander Opportunities in 4-2 Loss

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Opportunities to score were abundant, but the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers dropped their fourth straight contest with the Down East Wood Ducks 4-2 on Friday at Atrium Health Ballpark.

RHP Matt Thompson (L, 0-1) got the start for the Cannon Ballers. The 2nd round pick in 2019 and the No.6 overall prospect in the White Sox organization looked sharp early on Friday, providing a web gem in the second inning with a behind-the-back snag on a Keyber Rodriguez ground ball.

Thompson fired four innings, allowing one walk, seven hits and two earned runs while striking out four Down East batters.

The Wood Ducks opened the scoring in the top of the second inning on a strange sequence of a delayed double-steal. Keithron Moss was credited with the steal of home to give Down East the 1-0 advantage.

RHP Tekoah Roby got the nod for the Woodies. The No.24 overall prospect in the Texas Rangers system threw 2.1 scoreless and hitless innings, walking one and striking out three. Following the Florida native Roby was RHP Ben Anderson (W, 1-0), who tossed three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out four.

Down East added a run in the top of the fourth off a Jayce Easley RBI single that brought in Rodriguez to make it a 2-0 lead for the Wood Ducks. In the top of the seventh inning, Rangers No.6 prospect Luisangel Acuna smacked a two-run home run to center field to give Down East a 4-0 lead.

Kannapolis left runners on base in six of the nine innings, but still managed to get two runs across. In the bottom of the eighth, Caberea Weaver scored on a wild pitch by Joe Corbett, cutting the Wood Ducks lead to 4-1.

Benyamin Bailey cut the lead in half in the bottom of the ninth inning, blasting a 364-foot solo shot to the left field berm off Corbett to make it 4-2 Down East. The Ballers got two runners on base following Bailey’s homer, however, they were unable to capitalize, dropping their fourth straight matchup with the Woodies.

The Cannon Ballers return to play on Saturday night for the fifth of six matchups this week with the Down East Wood Ducks. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.

LHP Bailey Horn (0-0, 0.00) will start on the mound for Kannapolis to face Down East’s RHP Nick Krauth (0-0, 0.00) in the Saturday night matchup. Fireworks are in the plans both on and off the field, as the Cannon Ballers will light up the sky with postgame fireworks at Atrium Health Ballpark on Saturday. Limited tickets are available for Saturday’s game and can be purchased at kcballers.com or in-person at the F&M Bank Box Office.