Pitching, defense and a three-run home run added up to a 5-3 victory for the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers over the Wilson Warbirds on a sizzling hot Sunday afternoon, July 5, at Wilson Ballpark
After an announced attendance of 3,840 on the Fourth of July — a record for the new stadium — only 923, the smallest crowd of the inaugural season, braved the blistering sun in the finale of their six-game Single-A Carolina League series. Most of the spectators hung out in the shady areas of the concourse if their seats weren’t shaded
Five Kannapolis pitchers, starting with right-hander Alexander Martinez, combined to limit the Warbirds to two earned runs while striking out 14. Anthony Patterson III followed Martinez and didn’t allow a run despite giving up three hits in the next 1 1/3 innings. Patterson (2-2) notched the win while Landen Payne picked up his seventh save
Warbirds starter Tyler Renz (2-4) was roughed up in the second inning after issuing a leadoff walk to right fielder Christian Gonzalez, who stole second. Third baseman Alexander Albertus scorched a double to right field to bring in Gonzalez with the game’s first run
After another base on balls from Renz, Ballers second baseman Jurdick Profar picked a fine time for his first home run at the affiliate level since being promoted by the Chicago White Sox in mid-June. Profar’s three-run blast was all the Ballers would need
The Ballers, who didn’t commit an error, picked up an unearned run in the fifth, courtesy of one of Wilson’s three errors
The Warbirds didn’t get a hit until DH Alexander Frias doubled with one out in the fourth to score center fielder Juan Ortuno, who drew a leadoff walk. Frias moved around on a passed ball and Jose Anderson’s RBI grounder to slice the Ballers’ lead to 5-2
Wilson threatened in the bottom of the sixth when shortstop Brady Ebel and Frias ripped back-to-back one-out singles off Patterson. Nick Weyrich came on and uncorked a wild pitch before retiring the next two batters
The Warbirds loaded the bases with one out in the seventh when Weyrich ran into control problems. He put Ortuno on to force in a run and left the ball to right-hander Jesus Mendez with the dangerous Ebel coming up. But the Milwaukee Brewers’ first-round draft pick last summer hit the first pitch into a rally-killing double play
Wilson had one last chance in the bottom of the ninth when catcher Rylan Mills drew a two-out walk and third baseman Filippo Di Turi ripped his second single of the afternoon. But Payne fanned Ortuno on five pitches to end the game
The Warbirds, now 43-38 overall, and Kannapolis (40-41) each stand 7-8 in the second half heading into Monday’s off day. Wilson hosts the Fayetteville Woodpeckers for a six-game series starting Tuesday at 6:05 p.m
Carolina League Glance
North Division W L Pct. GB
Fayetteville (HOU) 9 6 .600 —
x-Fredericksburg (WSH) 8 7 .533 1
WILSON (MIL) 7 8 .467 2
Salem (BOS) 7 8 .467 2
Delmarva (BAL) 6 9 .400 3
Hill City (CLE) 3 12 .200 6
South Division W L Pct. GB
Hickory (TEX) 12 3 .800 —
Augusta (ATL) 10 5 .667 2
x-Charleston (TB) 8 7 .533 4
Columbia (KC) 7 8 .467 5
Kannapolis (CWS) 7 8 .467 5
Myrtle Beach (CHC) 6 9 .400 6
x-clinched first half
Sunday’s scores
Kannapolis 5, Wilson 3
Fayetteville 10, Hill City 9
Augusta 4, Salem 1
Hickory 3, Myrtle Beach 2
Delmarva 2, Charleston 0
Columbia 3, Fredericksburg 0
Monday’s games
No games scheduled
Tuesday’s games
Fayetteville at Wilson
Charleston at Hill City
Hickory at Augusta
Fredericksburg at Myrtle Beach
Kannapolis at Delmarva
Salem at Columbia
Wednesday’s games
Fayetteville at Wilson
Charleston at Hill City
Hickory at Augusta
Fredericksburg at Myrtle Beach
Kannapolis at Delmarva
Salem at Columbia
Thursday’s games
Fayetteville at Wilson
Charleston at Hill City
Hickory at Augusta
Fredericksburg at Myrtle Beach
Kannapolis at Delmarva
Salem at Columbia
OVERALL STANDINGS
North Division W L Pct. GB
x-Fredericksburg (WSH) 54 17 .667 —
WILSON (MIL) 43 38 .531 11
Fayetteville (HOU) 41 39 .513 12 1/2
Hill City (CLE) 34 47 .420 20
Salem (BOS) 32 48 .400 21 1/2
Delmarva (BAL) 29 52 .358 25
South Division W L Pct. GB
Hickory (TEX) 46 33 .582 —
x-Charleston (TB) 45 36 .556 2
Augusta (ATL) 45 36 .556 2
Columbia (KC) 41 40 .506 6
Kannapolis (CWS) 40 41 .494 7
Myrtle Beach (CHC) 33 46 .418 13
x-clinched first half
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