Montgomery Reaches in 31st Consecutive Game in 5-3 Loss to Pelicans Wednesday

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – After picking up an early lead over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers could not hold on for long enough late, falling 5-3 in Wednesday night’s Bark in The Park night at Atrium Health Ballpark.

RHP Jesus Valles provided a quality outing on the mound for Kannapolis, tossing five shutout outings, allowing two hits, two walks, and striking out three. RHP Adisyn Coffey relieved Valles in the sixth, tossing a perfect one inning of work.

The game ended up as mainly a pitcher’s duel, with the Ballers striking first in the fourth inning. Pelicans starter RHP Porter Hodge ended up with the bases loaded, walking two Ballers with the bases loaded to give Kannapolis a 2-0 lead. Later in the frame, Colson Montgomery drew a bases-loaded walk of his own to allow another run to cross the plate, putting the Ballers ahead 3-0.

Montgomery’s two-for-three night at the plate with a walk and a hit-by-pitch awarded the number one prospect in the White Sox system his 31st consecutive game reaching base. Montgomery now holds the longest streak in Ballers history, the most since 2019 when former Kannapolis Intimidator Ian Dawkins tallied a 31 game streak of his own.

Myrtle Beach found their stride on offense in the top of the seventh inning, making it a 3-1 deficit for the Pelicans on a Ezequiel Pagan RBI single off RHP Bo Plagge (L, 1-2).

Cubs top prospect James Triantos struck in the top of the eighth inning to pull Myrtle Beach closer with an RBI groundout, scoring Reivaj Garcia and Josue Huma, pulling the Pelicans to within one. Pagan’s big night continued later in the frame with an RBI single, scoring Huma and Kevin Made to give Myrtle Beach a 4-3 lead.

Garcia handed the Pelicans an insurance run in the ninth inning with an RBI single of his own, scoring Ethan Hearn to pull Myrtle Beach ahead 5-3.

The Pelicans are now in a win-and-in situation for Thursday’s matchup, holding the ability to clinch a playoff spot with a victory in Thursday’s game with Kannapolis.

The Ballers will rebound and look to get back in the win column in the third of six matchups with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Thursday night at Atrium Health Ballpark. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. Chicago White Sox top prospect RHP Norge Vera (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will get the start for Kannapolis, with the Pelicans sending RHP Luis Devers (8-3, 1.95 ERA) to the mound.

Fans can purchase tickets for any upcoming home games at kcballers.com or at the F&M Bank Box Office located at Atrium Health Ballpark.