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Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) at Lexington Legends (Royals) - May 14, 2013

May 14, 2013 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS INTIMIDATORS (14-20) at LEXINGTON LEGENDS (18-19)

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 7:05 p.m.

Whitaker Bank Ballpark - Lexington, Ky.

Game #35 (14-20) - Away Games #22 (10-11)

LHP Jefferson Olacio (1-4, 7.13) vs. RHP Miguel Almonte (1-4, 3.52)

Normal 0 0 1 834 4758 39 9 5843 11.1539 0 0 0

Today's Preview: The Intimidators (A, White Sox) look to bounce back from dropping their first extra-inning contest of the season when they take on the Legends (A, Royals) in Game 2 of a 3-game set at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Kannapolis is 10-11 on the road this year while Lexington is 11-9 at home. The Intimidators moved into a tie for fifth in the SAL Northern Division, 7.0 games behind first-place Hagerstown - the I's next opponent - while the Legends are sixth in the Southern Division, 4.0 games back of first-place Savannah. Kannapolis is 3-2 so far on this road trip.

Intimidating Starter: Jefferson Olacio, 19, takes the ball for his seventh start of the season. He was one out shy of a win in his last outing against Greensboro on May 6 in the second game of a twin bill - lasting 4 2/3 innings while allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with five strikeouts and a walk. Olacio entered this season rated by Baseball America as the No. 30 Prospect in the White Sox organization. He split last season between Kannapolis and Advanced Rookie Bristol, going 3-11 with a 5.16 ERA in 27 appearances (17 starts), including 15 games (five starts) for the Intimidators. He faced the Legends twice in relief in 2012, allowing no runs and two hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Legendary Starter: Miguel Almonte, 20, makes his seventh start of the year and second at home after making his last four starts on the road. He is coming off a hard-luck loss at Lakewoood on May 7 in which he gave up one run on five hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven along the way. On May 1 at Delmarva, Almonte dominated the Shorebirds over 6.0 scoreless innings, striking out a season-high nine batters and giving up just one hit. Almonte entered this season rated by Baseball America as the No. 10 Prospect (fifth pitcher) in the Royals system after starting 2012 in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League before earning a promotion to Arizona League and ending his year with Advanced Rookie Burlington for the Appalachian League playoffs.

Micah on the Move: Leadoff man Micah Johnson added three stolen bases Monday at Lexington, upping his Minor League-leading total to 35 in 42 attempts (.833). He was 2-4 at the plate, upping his average to .323 (40-124) on the year, ninth-best in the SAL. Johnson leads the league with 24 runs scored and five triples. Baseball America rated Johnson as the White Sox No. 25 Prospect this season, naming him the Fastest Baserunner in the organization's 2012 draft class. The White Sox selected him in the ninth round out of Indiana last June.

Extra, Extra!: Kannapolis ventured into extra-innings for the first time in 2013 before falling 2-1 in the 11th. The Intimidators are now 3-6 in one-run games this season.

Cose Coasts: Jake Cose cruised through seven innings Monday in a no decision, allowing one unearned run on three hits while walking one and striking out a season-high nine batters, matching the most by an Intimidators pitcher this season (Myles Jaye also struck out nine at Savannah on May 2). Cose is 2-3 with a 1.77 ERA, the eight-best ERA in the league. He ranks third in the SAL with 40.2 innings pitched.

Big Bad Braulio: Reliever Braulio Ortiz fanned five batters over 3.0 scoreless relief innings on Monday, equaling his season-high of five strikeouts from April 12 against Hickory. Ortiz is now 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 11 games for Kannapolis, and he has struck out 26 batters over 18.2 innings of work.

Fanning 15: Intimidators pitchers combined to strike out a season-high 15 batters on Monday. Starter Jake Cose fanned nine, followed by Braulio Ortiz striking out five. Storm Throne struck out the first batter he faced in the 11th.

Hot on the Corner: Michael Johnson has picked up the pace at the plate, taking advantage of more consistent playing time in his last seven games. He has reached base safely in seven consecutive games since May 4, batting .400 (8-20) in that span. Johnson has played five different positions this season, including first- and second-base, shortstop & left field.

Moving 60 Myles North: Kannapolis starter Myles Jaye has been promoted to the High-A Winston-Salem Dash and is slated to make his Carolina League debut tonight against Myrtle Beach (High-A, Rangers). Jaye went 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA (10 ER/41 IP) in seven games (seven starts). He ranks 2nd in the SAL in innings pitched, tied for second in wins, is 11th in strikeouts (37), and 13th in ERA.

Brase's Back: Reliever Stew Brase returns to the Intimidators, transferring from Winston-Salem where he was 0-0 with a 5.19 ERA (5 ER/8.2 IP) over six appearances in 2013. The right-hander spent last season with Kannapolis, going 4-7 with a 5.96 ERA (49 ER/74 IP) in 38 games (one start).

Legendary Prospects: Lexington's roster features eight of the Kansas City's Top 30 Prospects according to Baseball America, including: (2) Bubba Starling, OF; (5) Raul Mondesi, SS; (10) Miguel Almonte, RHP; (15) Cameron Gallagher, C; (17) Bryan Brickhouse, RHP; (23) Fred Ford, OF; (25) Colin Rodgers, LHP; and (26) Christian Binford, RHP.

New Royalty: The Lexington Legends are in their first year as an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The team had been the Class A farm team for the Houston Astros since 2001, when the Legends joined the league. Lexington is the only Sally League squad to change affiliations in the last three seasons. The Royals last had an affiliate on the circuit in 1999-2000 when the then-Charleston (WV) AlleyCats served as KC Jr. Their previous SAL affiliate was the Charleston Royals from 1980-84. The Boll Weevils/Intimidators franchise is 13-7 all-time v. Royals farm teams.

Broadcast Information: Tonight's game can be heard live on the Lexington Legends broadcast online at lexingtonlegends.com.

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