Missed Opportunities Hurt Kannapolis in 8-3 Loss to Mudcats

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers tallied eight walks and two multi-hit games at the plate, but went 1-10 with runners in scoring position, falling to the Carolina Mudcats 8-3 on Tuesday night at Atrium Health Ballpark.

LHP Bailey Horn got the start for the Ballers on the mound. The former Auburn southpaw provided a better outing than the numbers may say, striking out five and allowing five hits over his 4.1 innings of work. RHP Brandon Jenkins followed in relief, who was unable to keep his shutout innings streak going, allowing a run and two hits in his two-thirds of an inning.

Kannapolis opened the scoring in the bottom of the third when Ivan Gonzalez followed up a Caberea Weaver triple with an RBI groundout, making it 1-0 Ballers. Two batters later, Jose Rodriguez crushed a solo home run to left field, expanding the Kannapolis lead to 2-0.

Lency Delgado Jr. grew the lead in the bottom of the fourth, adding an RBI on a groundout that allowed Bryan Ramos to cross the plate, giving the Cannon Ballers a 3-0 advantage.

The Mudcats got on the board in the top of the fifth inning after a string of offense. After three singles, Joe Gray Jr. walked with the bases loaded making it 3-1 Kannapolis. Following Gray Jr., Noah Campbell drove in an RBI on a fielder’s choice, shortening the lead to 3-2 Ballers.

RHP Nick Belzer (W, 1-1) took the mound for the Mudcats for his second start of the season. The righty from Iowa went 5.1 innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs while notching four strikeouts and five walks.

Carolina took advantage of a struggling Ballers bullpen with a six-run top of the sixth inning. Arbert Cipion knotted the ballgame at 3-3 on an RBI single off Ty Madrigal (L, 0-1) that scored Felix Valerio. Two batters later, Freddy Zamora doubled home Darrien Miller and Cipion to give the Mudcats a 5-3 lead. Two batters after Zamora, Noah Campbell tallied an RBI double of his own that brought home Daniel Castillo and Zamora. Valerio scored Campbell on an RBI single two batters later to make it an 8-3 ballgame, advantage Carolina.

Kannapolis will look to rebound from the loss in the second of six games this week with the Mudcats on Wednesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. RHP Angel Acevedo (1-0, 4.50 ERA) is designated as the starter on the mound for the Ballers, while LHP Brandon Knarr (1-0, 5.06 ERA) is slated to get the nod for Carolina in the hump-day Bark in The Park tilt.

Fans can purchase tickets for any of the remaining home games including any of the matchups the rest of the week versus the Mudcats at kcballers.com or at the F&M Bank Box Office located at Atrium Health Ballpark.