Kannapolis Fall to Red Sox on Wednesday in Hard-Fought Ballgame

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers fought hard with the Salem Red Sox on Wednesday night in the second of six matchups this week at Atrium Health Ballpark, but the Ballers were unable to climb out of deficits, dropping the ballgame 6-4.

RHP Drew Dalquist (L, 1-7) began the night for Kannapolis on the mound. The No.5 overall prospect produced a pedestrian night, allowing six hits and four runs with two walks and two strikeouts. RHP Martin Carrasco entered in relief in the fifth, eating innings in the middle of the ballgame by going four frames, striking out two and walking one while also allowing two runs on four hits.

Salem opened the scoring in the top of the third on Gilberto Jimenez’s first of two RBIs, beginning the scoring with an RBI single to right field to score Dean Miller and make it 1-0 Red Sox early.

Matthew Lugo committed a throwing error in the bottom of the third on a ground ball by Bryan Ramos. The errant throw allowed Jose Rodriguez to cross the plate, knotting the ballgame at 1-1.

Jimenez’s second RBI broke the tie in the top of the fifth with another RBI single and another Miller run to make it 2-1 Salem. Another two runs touched the plate on the next batter when Lugo reached on a fielding error, giving Angel Maita and Nick Yorke the opportunity to cross the plate and extending the Red Sox lead to 4-1.

Kannapolis fought back for two runs in the bottom of the sixth, shortening the lead to 4-2 on a D.J. Gladney sacrifice fly that brought Ramos home. Caberea Weaver then followed by reaching on a second Lugo error, allowing Luis Mieses to score, pulling the Ballers to within striking distance at 4-3 in favor of Salem.

RHP Bradley Blalock (W, 2-5) began the night on the hill for the Red Sox, going five efficient innings and allowing one unearned run on four hits while walking none and getting three punchouts. RHP Jordan DiValerio relieved Blalock in the sixth, unable to keep up the success of his teammate. The righty from Pennsylvania allowed three runs on five hits, striking out four and walking one.

The Red Sox added insurance runs with Miller at the plate in the top of the eighth as Carrasco surrendered a wild pitch that scored Alex Erro. Later in the same at-bat, Antoni Flores scored on a sacrifice fly and pushed Salem ahead further to 6-3.

More late-inning heroics off the bat of Victor Torres inched Kannapolis closer in the bottom of the eighth when the Ballers catcher grounded out to DiValerio, giving Harvin Mendoza the chance to score and make it a 6-4 deficit for the home team.

The Ballers will look to rebound from the loss in the third of six matchups with the Salem Red Sox this week on Thursday night. First pitch for the Thirsty Thursday tilt is set for 7:00 p.m. RHP Chase Solesky (1-5, 4.75 ERA) will get the start for Kannapolis on the mound, with Salem sending out LHP Jeremy Wu-Yelland (0-3, 3.32 ERA).

Tickets can be purchased for any remaining home games at kcballers.com or at the F&M Bank Box Office located at Atrium Health Ballpark.