Kannapolis Claims 7-6 Victory in Close Extra-Inning Showdown with Red Sox Wednesday 

Kannapolis Claims 7-6 Victory in Close Extra-Inning Showdown with Red Sox Wednesday

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Among a 44-minute rain delay and five total lead changes, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers outlasted the Salem Red Sox to clinch a win by the score of 7-6 Wednesday night at Atrium Health Ballpark.

RHP Kohl Simas took the mound against his brother Karson’s team Wednesday, tossing 4.1 innings, the most since he landed on the injured list in early June. Simas threw 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on one hit, walking six and striking out three. LHP Haylen Green cleaned up the mess in relief, firing 2.2 innings and allowing three hits, one run, one walk, and two strikeouts.

Salem opened the scoring in the top of the first inning just three batters into the ballgame with a Chase Meidroth sacrifice fly, scoring Eddinson Paulino to put the Red Sox up 1-0.

Wilfred Veras answered with authority in the bottom of the first inning, crushing a three-run blast into right-center field to push the Ballers ahead 3-1. Veras’ seventeenth home run of the season scored Wes Kath and Andy Atwood.

The Red Sox returned in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead, scoring on a bases-loaded walk of Eddinson Paulino, scoring Kier Meredith. The next batter Brainer Bonaci then added an RBI single to center field, scoring Johnfrank Salazar and Karson Simas to push Salem ahead 4-3.

Logan Glass knotted the ballgame in the bottom of the fifth inning with his third triple of the season, hitting a hard-hit line drive into left field to score Samil Polanco and even the game at 4-4.

Later in the game, in the sixth inning, a pickoff error from Salem pitcher Nathanael Cruz allowed Atwood to scamper home and give the home team the lead. Later in the frame, Polanco tallied a sacrifice fly to score DJ Gladney and hand Kannapolis an insurance run.

Bonaci’s second RBI of the game came in the top of the seventh, grounding out to shortstop to allow just enough time for Karson Simas to score, closing the gap to 6-5.

RHP Liam Jenkins entered in the eighth and ninth inning in an effort to close out the game, but the tall righty tossed a wild pitch with a runner on third, permitting Bonaci to score in the top of the ninth inning to knot the game at 6-6.

After the game was sent into extra innings and a 44-minute rain delay ensued, RHP Tyson Messer (W, 5-3) entered in relief, tossing a clean inning in his second appearance in as many games.

Following a wild pitch from Salem RHP Christopher Troye (L, 1-2), two wild pitches with James Beard at the plate allowed Glass to touch home, handing Kannapolis the 7-6 win in extras.

The Ballers and the Red Sox will do business again for the third time this week at Atrium Health Ballpark on Thursday night. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. RHP Noah Owen gets the start for Kannapolis in the Thirsty Thursday matchup.

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.