Strong Pitching, Power Hitting Leads FredNats to 5-0 Win Over Kannapolis

Fredericksburg, V.A. - The Fredericksburg Nationals bounced back from the series opener loss with a 5-0 win over the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. The FredNats hit three home runs as the pitchers delivered their 9th shutout of the season.

Tonights pitching strategy was one we haven’t seen all season. RHP Gus Hughes got his first start of the season, and went 2.2 scoreless innings, including two perfect to start the outing. He then gave way for Merritt Beeker who closed the door on the 3rd. Xander Meckley who was the usual starter at this point in the schedule entered in middle relief and threw the middle three innings of the game, allowing just one hit and no runs.

In the 7th, RHP Kaleb Kantola then made his professional debut, throwing a scoreless 7th with two strikeouts, becoming the first member of the 2026 draft class or UDFA class to debut on the mound. Cesar Rojas then made his 30th appearance of the season, pitching a scoreles 8th. Adam Boucher threw the 9th inning,

On the offensive side, the FredNats were crushing balls all night. In the bottom of the 3rd, Manny Cabrera opened the scoring with a solo home run, his 5th of the season. An inning later, Juan Cruz also hit a leadoff homer, his 10th of the year, to make it 2-0. In the 5th, the FredNats utilized small ball to bring home another run as Gavin Fien hit an RBI single to plate Dashyll Tejeda to make it 3-0.

Looking for some more insurance in the 8th, Juan Cruz came thorugh with a laser home run into right field for his second of the night. It’s the first multi home run game of Cruz’s career. That made it 5-0 Fredericksburg.

The shutout is the 9th of the season from the pitching staff. With the win, the Nationals the series up at one game a piece. The FredNats will hope to make it two in a row tomorrow with LHP Juan Reyes facing off against RHP Gabe Tanner. First pitch at Virginia Credit Union Stadium is set for 6:35 PM.