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Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) vs. Asheville Tourists (Rockies) - May 9, 2013

May 9, 2013 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS INTIMIDATORS (11-18) at ASHEVILLE TOURISTS (18-13)

Thursday, May 9, 2013 - 7:05 p.m.

McCormick Field - Asheville, N.C.

Game #30 (11-18) - Away Games #14 (7-9)

RHP Myles Jaye (3-1, 1.50) vs. RHP T.J. Oakes (3-2, 5.40)

Today's Preview: The Intimidators (A, White Sox) head to the mountains for a four-game series in Asheville against the Tourists (A, Rockies). Kannapolis is coming off two days rest after a rainout on Monday followed by Tuesday's scheduled off day, and the team has played six games in the past 11 days. The Intimidators and Tourists play for the first time since July 31, 2011, as the two squads did not face each other in 2012. Kannapolis is 6.5 games out of first, sixth in the Northern Division while Asheville is tied for third in the Southern Division, 1.5 games out of first.

Intimidating Starters: Myles Jaye, 21, makes his team-leading seventh start of the season looking to bounce back from his first loss, a May 2 defeat at Savannah in which he matched a career-high with nine strikeouts. He won his first three games of the season, including a career-high 8 scoreless innings against Hickory on April 14, and left in line for a win in his first five starts. He spent 2012 with Kannapolis, going 4-7 with a 6.04 ERA in 17 starts in his first year in the White Sox system. The Sox acquired Jaye in a New Years Day trade with the Blue Jays, along with prospect Daniel Webb, for big leaguer Jason Frasor. Jaye has been one of the premier pitchers in the SAL in 2012, ranking third in innings pitched (36.0), tied for fifth in strikeouts (34), tied for sixth in wins (3), and ranking eighth in ERA (1.50). In the Sox system, his ERA is tied with Winston-Salem's Chris Beck for second, just behind Birmingham's Erik Johnson (1.30). He is third in the organization in strikeouts, behind Johnson and Winston-Salem's Chris Bassitt (both at 36).

Twirling Tourist: T.J. Oakes, 22, makes his seventh start of the season and third at home. He has logged decisions in each of his last five starts, working at least 5.0 innings in each of his last three. Opponents are batting a healthy .345 against Oakes, who has allowed 41 hits this year, tops among SAL pitchers. He is tied for the league-lead with six hit batters. The Rockies selected Oakes in the 11th round of the June 2012 draft out of the University of Minnesota, where he went 7-3 with a 2.31 ERA in 14 starts in his final season. In his professional debut with Short-Season Tri-City, Oakes went 1-2 with a 4.41 ERA in 11 starts for the Dust Devils.

Eight Is Enough: Kannapolis snapped an eight-game losing streak by taking the second game of Monday's doubleheader. The team's last win came April 24 at home against Rome. The eight-game slide is the longest for the franchise since a 12-game losing streak Aug. 10-25, 2006.

Micah on the Move: Leadoff man Micah Johnson stole a career-high four bases in Game 2 Monday with steals of second and third base in the first and third innings. He now leads all Minor Leagues with 25 stolen bases in 29 attempts (.862). He is three stolen bases ahead of the next closest player - San Antonio's Rico Noel, who swiped three bases on Tuesday to up his season total to 22. Reds prospect Billy Hamilton, who stole a record 155 bases in 2012 is currently at 17 for the season. During his record run last season, Hamilton had swiped 31 bags by May 7. Johnson scored two runs in Monday's Game 2 to up his season total to 24 runs scored, tied for third-most in the SAL. The Indiana Hoosier leads the league with four triples. The White Sox selected him in the ninth round in June 2012.

"K" is for Kyle: Kyle Hansen, the White Sox sixth round pick in the June 2012 draft, earned a 6-out save in his season debut in the second game of Monday's twin bill against the Hoppers. He struck out four batters and walked one, allowing no hits over two scoreless innings in a 4-2 victory. He joined the Intimidators Saturday from Extended Spring. He made six appearances in 2012 between Bristol and Great Falls, going 0-0 and posting a 6.75 ERA (4 ER/6.1 IP). Hansen entered this season rated by Baseball America as having the Best Fastball (along with Chris Beck) and having the Most Intriguing Background in the 2012 White Sox draft class as his brother Craig is a former first round pick who pitched in the Majors for the Red Sox and is currently in the Mets organization.

Last Time Out: Kannapolis split a doubleheader with Greensboro, dropping Game 1, 2-1, before taking Game 2, 4-2. Jake Cose took a hard-luck loss in Game 1, allowing two unearned runs in 6 2/3 innings. Ruben Sierra Jr. committed an error in centerfield in the first inning that brought home a run and Micah Johnson's fielding folly in the seventh put the Hoppers ahead for good. In Game 2, Micah Johnson ran wild with four stolen bases and scored two runs. Michael Johnson doubled and scored to put Kannapolis up 3-2 in the fourth, and Kyle Hansen's two scoreless frames earned the save.

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