KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers won a, 3-2, thriller to secure a fourth straight series victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Friday night at Atrium Health Ballpark.
RHP Blaine Wynk started the game for the Ballers with a scoreless three innings, giving up two hits and striking out five batters. RHP Anthony Patterson ended up as the next arm for the Ballers out of the bullpen, tossing one frame in which the Pelicans scored three hits and two runs. LHP Trey Cooper (W, 3-0) held things down in the middle innings, tossing three scoreless innings and allowing just one hit with three strikeouts. LHP Jordan Morales worked a rapid 1-2-3 eighth inning as a set-up man, capping it off with a strikeout. RHP Marco Barrios (S, 3) notched another save to his belt, surrendering two hits but getting help from his defense to lock in the win.
The Pelicans struck first in the fourth inning of Friday’s game with Yahil Melendez lacing an RBI double to right-center field that brought home Josiah Hartshorn and Jose Escobar.
The Ballers offense awoke with vengeance in the bottom of the sixth. Billy Carlson scorched a double down the right field line to score Kannapolis’ first run. Stiven Flores followed up soon after by bringing home another run with a swinging-bunt infield single. Matthew Boughton plated the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Ballers a, 3-2, advantage.
While the scoring ended there, Marcelo Alcala donned the hero’s cape. Alcala fielded a Derniche Valdez single in the top of the ninth and uncorked a laser to Flores at home, who tagged out the potential tying runner to seal the win for the home side, their eighth of their last nine .
The Ballers are back in action Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. for the fifth game of a six-game series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. RHP Caedmon Parker will make his first appearance of the series Saturday at Atrium Health Ballpark on Military Appreciation Night.
The 2026 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers season is underway at Atrium Health Ballpark! Single-game tickets, season ticket packages, group experiences and 10-game mini plans for the 2026 season are available for purchase now. Call the Cannon Ballers ticket office at (704) 932-3267 or visit kcballers.com for more information.