Third-inning brawl causes Sally League drama

Pitches weren't the only things thrown in Kannapolis' 4-3 win at Greensboro on Thursday.

With two outs in the first inning, Intimidators pitcher Alberto Zazueta hit batter Logan Morrison with a pitch in the small of his back. Both benches cleared and, eventually, home plate umpire Matt Abbott ejected Grasshoppers batting coach Anthony Iapoce and issued warnings to both teams.

Logan returned to the plate in the third with two outs, and Zazueta hit Logan with a pitch on his upper leg. Abbott immediately ejected the pitcher and Kannapolis manager Chris Jones, and for a second time both teams left their dugouts.

When the infield dirt settled, the umpiring crew went into the clubhouse for an hour to discuss taking action.

"There were four or five brawls going on," Grasshoppers general manager Donald Moore said. "When all was said and done, each team had so many players ejected that they couldn't field a team -- there weren't enough position players left. No one wants a pitcher to play second base."

A call was placed to South Atlantic League president John Henry Moss, who conferred with the umpiring crew and decided to reinstate the players involved in the second brawl, with the exception of Zazueta and Jones, who were ejected due to the umpire's warning.

"I talked with the umpires and they gave me a report," Moss said. "I know that Greensboro draws well, and the fans paid to get in. I directed that the players get put back into the game."

Both teams were relegated to their locker rooms during play with the exceptions of the position players on the field, bullpen pitchers eligible to take the mound and the batters at the plate and on deck.

According to Moore, there is one tunnel that accesses the clubhouses. Security personnel, who consist of off-duty Greensboro police officers, were placed along the hallway to prevent any further issues.

"We have enough security available to back it all up," he said. "We took every measure. There were 6,600 people here, and thank goodness Mr. Moss intervened. I don't know how he'll deal with it, but he's been doing this for 50 years. Mr. Moss will get the players' attention [Friday]."

Moss was less concerned with the on-field activity than the spectators in the stands.

"The fans had to come first," Moss said. "They're an integral part of our interest. I have to protect the integrity of the fan that comes to watch baseball. I'll deal with the punishments [Friday]."

Moore was only able to speculate that the fray stemmed from Tuesday night's game, in which the Grasshoppers led in the bottom of the ninth, 9-6. Greensboro pitcher Blake Jones hit Kannapolis cleanup hitter Christopher Carter with a pitch before the Intimidators scored four times for a come-from-behind win.

"Hopefully things will go all right," Moore said of the Grasshoppers' home and series finale Friday. The Intimidators (34-31) were able to come from behind in Thursday's game as well as Lee Cruz hit a two-run homer, his ninth, in the top of the ninth inning en route to the victory.

Kannapolis reliever Matthew Long (9-3) allowed one run on a hit with two strikeouts in the eighth, and Kanekoa Texeira pitched around a walk for his 16th save.

Jones (5-6) gave up three runs on three hits in the ninth for the loss.

The Grasshoppers (33-33) received solo homers from James Guerrero in the fifth, his third, and Jacob Blackwood, who hit his 10th in the eighth. Scott Cousins went 3-for-5 with a run scored and Morrison hit an RBI single in the fifth.