SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) at Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) - May 26, 2014

Published on May 26, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS INTIMIDATORS at HICKORY CRAWDADS

21-27 (Chicago White Sox)

23-25 (Texas Rangers)

Monday, May 26, 2014 - 6:00 p.m.

L.P. Frans Stadium - Hickory, N.C.

Game #49

RH Tyler Barnette (2-2, 3.21) vs. RH Kelvin Vasquez (1-1, 3.86)

Today's Preview: Former Hickory (N.C.) High School standout Tyler Barnette makes his first visit to his hometown in pro ball as the starting pitcher for the Intimidators (A, White Sox) in today's series opener against the Crawdads (A, Rangers). Barnette, who pitched for the Hickory Hornets before matriculating to nearby UNC Charlotte, has faced Hickory in three games already this season, all in Kannapolis. He'll duel Kelvin Vasquez, a fellow reliever-turned-starter who is in his second season in the South Atlantic League after injury cut short his 2013 campaign in Class A. Last week in Kannapolis, the Crawdads took three of four games to even the season series, 7-7 (out of 24 total games).

Intimidating Starter: Tyler Barnette, 21, makes his fifth start and second straight against Hickory. He is coming off a loss to the Crawdads May 20, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits over 3.0 innings. He is 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA (3 ER/7.2 IP) with six strikeouts and no walks in three games (one start) against Hickory. The reliever-turned-starter is 2-2 with a 5.50 ERA (11 ER/18 IP) in four starts compared to 0-0 with 0.57 ERA (1 ER/15.2 IP) in six games out of the bullpen. Prior to last week's loss to Hickory, Barnette is coming off back-to-back wins at Lakewood (May 8) and against Delmarva (May 14), including a career-high seven strikeouts against the Shorebirds in the first quality start of this career. He made his professional debut last season with Advanced Rookie Bristol, going 1-4 with a 5.73 ERA in 13 games (six starts) in 2013, including going 0-3 with a 6.26 ERA as a starter. The White Sox selected Barnette in the 14th round of the June 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of UNC Charlotte where he earned Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year in 2011.

Hickory's Hurler: Kelvin Vasquez, 21, makes his sixth start and fourth appearance against Kannapolis. He is coming off a no decision against the Intimidators on May 20 in which he fanned seven over 4.1 innings. He is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA (4 ER/14 IP) with 15 strikeouts and five walks in three games (two starts) against Kannapolis, including a May 2 outing in which he spun 6.0 shutout innings to secure a win. Vasquez started the season in the bullpen, and he has gone 1-1 with a 3.81 ERA (11 ER/26.2 IP) in five starts. The Rangers signed Vasquez as a non-drafted free agent in June 2011 and spent the first two seasons of his career with the DSL Rangers before making his U.S. debut in 2013 with Hickory, going 2-2 with a 6.49 ERA in eight games (seven starts) before landing on the DL with a right elbow strain on May 17. Vasquez joined Short-A Spokane on a rehab assignment, and spent the rest of the season in the Northwest League, leading the circuit in ERA (2.13) and ranking second in strikeouts.

About Last Night: Delmarva completed a series sweep over the Intimidators by taking the series finale on Sunday, 5-2. Jeff Kemp paced the Shorebirds, going 4-4 with a triple and two RBI as Delmarva scored five runs between the fifth and sixth innings. Dylan Rheault earned the win, improving to 6-0, while starter Jake Sanchez (4-3) suffered the loss.

Six Game Slide: The Intimidators have lost a season-high six consecutive games entering today's series opener at Hickory. It's the team's longest skid since dropping six straight games July 19-25, 2013. Last season's longest skid was eight games (April 25 to May 6).

Road Woes: Kannapolis has lost seven straight road games since the second game of a May 11 doubleheader at Hagerstown, the team's longest road losing streak of 2014.

Dowdy Does Work: Catcher Jeremy Dowdy is coming off a strong finish in the Delmarva series, collecting a career-high-tying three hits, going 3-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored on Sunday, his third 3-hit game of the season and seventh of his career. Dowdy is batting .312 (24-77) in 21 games, including .350 (14-40) in 10 games since May 3.

Broadcast: This week's series in Hickory can be heard live on IntimidatorsBaseball.com with the Voice of the Intimidators, Josh Feldman. This season, all 70 home games as well as select road games can be heard live on the Intimidators Baseball Network. Today's pregame show begins at 5:45 p.m. with first pitch at 6 p.m.

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