SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators at Savannah Sand Gnats (May 3, 2013)

Published on May 3, 2013 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS INTIMIDATORS (10-16) at SAVANNAH SAND GNATS (17-9)

Friday, May 3, 2013 - 7:05 p.m.

Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Ga.

Game #27 (10-16) - Away Game #16 (7-9)

RHP Euclides Leyer (1-3, 4.56) vs. LHP Steven Matz (1-0, 1.96)

Today's Preview: Since holding a .500 mark at 10-10, the Kannapolis Intimidators (A, White Sox) have dropped six straight games and today look to avoid a series sweep against the Sand Gnats (A, Mets) in Savanah. The Intimidators (10-16) are 5.0 games out of first in the South Atlantic League Northern Division, trailing Hagerstown and Hickory, tied at 15-11. The Gnats (17-9) took over first place in the Southern Division, pulling a game ahead of Asheville, Augusta and Rome.

Intimidating Starter: Euclides Leyer, 22, takes the ball for the sixth time this season and looks to break a string of three consecutive losses. He has pitched well in his last two outings - allowing 3 earned runs over 10.1 innings - both road losses. In four starts away from CMC-NorthEast Stadium, Leyer is 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA (6 ER/22 IP). He's coming off a season-high seven strikeouts at Charleston on April 26.

Savannah's Starter: Steven Matz, who turns 22 later this month, makes his fifth start of the season as the Stony Brook, NY, native looks to keep his ERA under 2.00. The former second-round pick has allowed 4 earned runs in 18.1 innings in 2013, including 5.0 scoreless frames to earn a win at Lakewood April 19. The Mets selected Matz in the second round (72 overall) of the June 2009 draft. He made his professional debut in 2012 after having Tommy John Surgery, going 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA in six starts for the Appalachian League's Kingsport Mets.

About Last Night: Kannapolis jumped in front early before the Gnats came back for a 5-3 win on Thursday. Intimidators starter Myles Jaye matched his career-high with nine strikeouts but suffered his first loss of the season despite a quality start. Gabriel Ynoa notched the win for the Gnats, striking out eight over seven innings.

Myles Ahead: Myles Jaye matched a career-high with nine strikeouts Thursday in Savannah but suffered his first loss of the season. He allowed three earned runs over six innings after allowing just three earned runs over his first 30 innings in his first five starts this season. He now leads the SAL with 36 innings pitched, is tied for second in wins (3), ranks fourth with 34 strikeouts, fifth in ERA (1.50). Jaye also leads the SAL in at-bats against (129) and total batters faced (147). The right-hander first joined the Intimidators a year ago today, making his White Sox debut with a win May 3 against Augusta. The Sox acquired Jaye, along with prospect Daniel Webb, in a January 2012 trade with Toronto for Major Leaguer Jason Frasor.

Scoring First, Finishing Last: Kannapolis has scored first four times in the last five games but lost each time. Kannapolis is 9-6 when scoring first in 2013, tied for 8th-best in the SAL.

Ruben Rocks: Outfielder Ruben Sierra Jr. has hit safely in four straight games, batting .375 (6-16) over that span. The White Sox signed Sierra in December 2012. The son of 20-year MLB veteran Ruben Sierra, Sierra Jr. spent three seasons with the Rangers (2009-11).

And Kiser Rolls: Outfielder Kale Kiser blasted his second home run for the Intimidators in Thursday's game at Savannah. He finished 1-3 and is now batting .333 (5-15) with two home runs on this road trip. Prior to this trip, the switch-hitter endured a 2-46 slump after starting the season as the SAL's hottest hitter, batting .526 through his first six games.

Micah's Streak Snapped: Micah Johnson went 0-4 with a season-high three strikeouts on Thursday, snapping his season-long seven-game hit streak. He hit .393 (11-28) over his last seven games. Wednesday he swiped third base, the eighth time he's stolen third in nine attempts this season. The former Indiana Hoosier has now stolen 21 bases this season, leading all Minor League Baseball. He leads the South Atlantic League with four triples and is tied for second with 21 runs scored, just behind Savannah's Brandon Nimmo (22).

SAV-vy Hitter: Savannah catcher Kevin Plawecki upped his SAL-leading average with a 2-4 night with an RBI and a double on Thursday and is now batting .406 (39-96). He also leads the league in hits, doubles (16), extra-base hits (20), slugging percentage (.698), ranks second in total bases (67) and on-base percentage (.464) and fourth in RBI (22). The Mets selected Plawecki in the supplemental first round (35th overall) in the June 2012 draft out of Purdue where he hit .348 over three seasons with the Boilermakers.

Another SAV-vy Hitter: Gnats first baseman Jayce Boyd went 2-4 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored against Kannapolis on Thursday and continues to rank second in the league with a .380 average (38-100). He leads the SAL in on-base percentage (.466), is tied for second in hits, ranks third in RBI (25) and doubles (10), and fifth in total bases (54). The Mets selected Boyd in the sixth round of the June 2012 draft out of Florida State.

Broadcast Information: Tonight's game can be heard live on the Savannah Sand Gnats broadcast network online at sandgnats.com.

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