KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Backed by a quality start, a three-pitcher shutout and 13 runs on 14 hits, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, playing as los Ajolotes de Kannapolis for the final time of 2026, mashed the Delmarva Shorebirds, 13-0, Thursday night at Atrium Health Ballpark.
RHP Gabe Tanner pummeled the Shorebirds in his six innings of work, shutting out the visitors with three strikeouts while allowing four hits and two walks. LHP Luis Fonseca followed Tanner out of the bullpen, striking out three of his own in two innings with one walk in his first appearance at home. Finally, RHP Marco Barrios tossed a clean ninth inning to anchor the final three outs for Kannapolis in the field.
The Cannon Ballers dominated at the plate against a trio of Shorebirds, batting .500 with runners in scoring position. Every bat reached base in some fashion, including multi-RBI and multi-hit games from Abraham Nunez, Alexander Albertus and Landon Hodge. Albertus shined the brightest in Thursday’s game, becoming the sixth Baller with a four-hit game in 2026.
Base-running and Delmarva blunders helped Kannapolis, who scored first on a Jake Berkland and Clay Burdette double-steal that involved a fielding error by the Shorebirds catcher. Hodge’s first run driven in of the game came one batter later, putting the Ballers in front, 2-0. Grayson Fitzwater notched one of Kannapolis’ four extra-base hits with an RBI triple to push the lead to, 3-0, in the bottom of the third. Albertus quickly followed with one of his two doubles in Thursday’s action to put the home side in front, 4-0.
The Ballers put up another pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth and one more in the seventh before crushing Delmarva for a six-run eighth. An error, RBI singles from Albertus, Efren Teran and Jaden Fauske, an RBI double from Nunez and a bases-loaded walk by Burdette put Kannapolis in front, 13-0.
Delmarva reached base with five hits and three walks but went just 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, failing to capitalize en route to their fourth consecutive loss.
The Ballers can match their all-time best win total since moving the franchise to Atrium Health Ballpark of 70 with one more victory in their final three games. Kannapolis and Delmarva square up for the fourth game of the series Friday night at 7:00 p.m., with RHP Fabian Ysalla due for his final start of the season.
Fans can learn more about season ticket memberships, mini plans, group outings, and hospitality packages for the 2027 season by visiting kcballers.com, calling (704) 932-3267 or emailing tickets@kcballers.com for more information.