KANNAPOLIS— Think about this for a moment.
It’s Thirsty Thursday at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium. You’ve already watched one manager get thrown out by the home plate umpire. You’ve already seen the home manager almost get thrown out by the home plate umpire. You’ve seen Humberto Quintero get hit by a pitch and have to be held back from charging the mound when the pitcher tips his cap.
And now, it’s the top of the ninth. The Intimidators are comfortably ahead 6-2, the ace reliever is coming in — and you’re not thirsty anymore. You’re groggy and tired and want to go home.
So like so many of the 2,540 in attendance, you do.
And you find out today that you missed five more innings.
Reliever Joe Valentine allowed the first three Hagerstown Suns to reach base, before giving up consecutive 2-run hits.
Just like that, the Intimidators’ lead was like its fan base — gone.
After struggling five more frames, the Suns got a run across the plate and took a 7-6 South Atlantic League victory.
It was the third loss in four games for the suddenly staggering Intimidators. They fell to 14-7 in the Northern Division, one game behind Lexington’s Legends (15-6).
It appeared early on that Kannapolis was on its way to an easy victory, thank to Derren Ciraco and Dennis Ulacia.
Ciraco, who went 3-for-5, knocked in all four runs. Casey Rogowski and Guillermo Reyes scored two each.
And then, there was Ulacia, who was going for his fourth win without a loss. He had an 0.67 ERA and opponents were hitting just .169 against him. But when he walked a man in the top of the sixth, putting two on, manager Razor Shines replaced him with Arnaldo Munoz, who took over with a 4-1 lead.
That’s when the crowd obviously still thirsty, turned surly.
A wacky, unpredictable strike zone brought Shines out for a little chat. Then, with two outs, Munoz tried to pick off a runner at first and he was caught off base. But instead of a rundown. Rogowski, playing first, threw to third instead and both runners were safe.
Munoz promptly balked home a run, bringing Shines out again to argue as the crowd grew more raucous.
In the bottom of the inning, Suns manager Bill Hayes began arguing balls and strikes and was tossed. He gave the ump a 10-minute tirade before leaving to the jeers.
Things finally settled down as Munoz pitched like he was late for supper. Seven of the quickest outs in Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium history were recorded.
Offensively, Kannapolis added a couple of runs. In the ninth, Shines handed the ball over to Valentine.
The Suns immediately took advantage, tying the score.
The game then dragged on until the 14th when the Intimidators walked in the winning run.
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NOTES: Hagerstown left a whopping 20 on base. ... Rocky Hughes had a rocky outing, walking five in 213 innings. He took the loss. ... Kannapolis walked 16 Suns. ... Alex Fajardo, a former Boll Weevil, is batting .160 for the Suns but reached base three times. ... Kannapolis ends its homestand tonight at 6:35 p.m. ... The team visits Hickory Saturday.
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