SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) vs. Asheville Tourists (Rockies) - July 12, 2014

Published on July 12, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS INTIMIDATORS vs. ASHEVILLE TOURISTS

14-9, 43-47 (Chicago White Sox)

17-6, 58-34 (Colorado Rockies)

Saturday, July 12, 2014 - 7:05 p.m.

CMC-NorthEast Stadium - Kannapolis, N.C.

2nd Half Game #24 (91 of 137)

LH Andre Wheeler (1-2, 3.60) vs. RH Konner Wade (7-7, 3.65)

. Today's Preview: The Intimidators (A, White Sox) look to get their offense back on track while getting back into this series against the Tourists (A, Rockies) in Game 3 of this 4-game series. Kannapolis has scored one run over its last three games, dropping 1.0 game back in the SAL Northern Division into a tie for third place in the Second Half standings. Today Andre Wheeler takes the mound for Kannapolis as the Tourists counter with Konner Wade in a pitching rematch from June 8 in Asheville.

Intimidating Starter: Andre Wheeler, 22, makes his 10th start and 20th appearance when he faces the Tourists for the second time this season. He took no decision in Asheville on June 8, allowing three runs on five hits over 4.0 innings. Wheeler earned a win in his most recent start, tossing 5.0 innings against Delmarva, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits on July 1. He is 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA (18 ER/39.2 IP) in nine starts compared to 0-0 with a 1.96 ERA (4 ER/18.1 IP) in nine relief appearances. After going 0-2 with a 4.58 ERA in April in seven games (three starts), Wheeler made tremendous strides in May, posting a 1.66 ERA (4 ER/21.2 IP) in six games (three starts) for Kannapolis. The White Sox selected Wheeler in the 15th round of last June's draft, and he pitched nine games with Bristol before joining Kannapolis in late July 2013.

Twirling Tourist: Konner Wade, 22, makes his 18th start of the season and second against Kannapolis. He is coming off 7.0 scoreless innings in a win at Rome on July 7. The Arizona native has allowed just one earned run over his last four starts (28.1 IP), and he worked seven or more innings in his last five outings. His last start shorter than 7.0 innings came on June 8 at home against the Intimidators where he allowed six runs on eight hits over 6.0 innings in a no decision. Wade ranks fifth in the SAL in innings pitched, and he is tied for the league lead with 12 home runs allowed. The Rockies drafted Wade in the seventh round of the June 2013 draft out of Arizona. He made his pro debut in 2013, going 3-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 14 starts for SS Tri-City (NWL).

About Last Night: The Tourists consistently pushed runs across the plate, and Kannapolis couldn't keep up in a 11-1 loss Friday. Asheville plated runs in every inning except the third, spreading out their offensive attached, which was paced by David Dahl who went 4-6 with 3 RBI, including an RBI-double, and 3 runs scored. Dahl's 2-run single in the second inning pulled the Tourists ahead 3-1. Asheville starter Alex Balog fanned a career-high nine batters over 7.0 frames, keeping Kannapolis off the scoreboard over his final six frames of work. Balog (7-3) limited the Intimidators to a run on four hits with two walks on his way to the win. In the first inning, Christian Stringer homered (6) to right field to tie the game, 1-1. Intimidators starter Tyler Barnette (2-5) took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits over 4.1 innings in his first appearance since returning from the Disabled List earlier in the week. Andrew Mitchell struck out three batters while allowing a run in a hitless relief inning.

Offensive Rollercoaster Ride: The Kannapolis offense has experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows in the last week. The Intimidators matched their season-high with 12 runs a game in three straight games during a 3-game winning streak from July 6-8 before losing three straight July 9-11 while scoring only one run over the team's 3-game slide.

One In Three: Kannapolis has scored one run in its last three games, including back-to-back shut outs on Wednesday and Thursday. It was the first time the Intimidators suffered consecutive shutout losses since April 9, 2009, when the Rome Braves blanked Kannapolis in both game of a doubleheader. This is the first time the Intimidators have scored just one run in a 3-game stretch since July 14-16, 2008, as Kannapolis lost the first game of a July 14 doubleheader at Rome 2-1 then fell 3-0 in the second game. They then lost their next game 2-0 to Charleston.

League Leaders: Kannapolis third baseman Trey Michalczewski ranks tied for second in the league with 89 games played this season. First baseman Danny Hayes is tied for the SAL lead with 47 walks while right fielder Jacob Morris is third with 45. Two Intimidators, Morris (120) and T.J. Williams (111) rank tops among the league's strikeout leaders.

Dr. Jeckel, Mr. Mitchell: Intimidators reliever Andrew Mitchell struck out three batters in one inning of relief on Friday night. The former TCU Horned Frog pitcher worked the seventh inning, allowing a run on no hits with two walks, two wild pitches, and a hit-by-pitch. Mitchell has now worked 48.0 innings and has struck out 64 batters, fourth-most on the Intimidators this season, while walking a league-high 51.

Dominant Dykstra: James Dykstra ranks fourth in the SAL in ERA (2.64) and innings pitched (99.0), and fifth in WHIP (1.12). Among starters, he leads the league with the lowest walks/9 IP ratio (0.91), having issued just 10 walks in 99 innings of work this season. Dykstra is coming off a career-high 10 strikeouts on Thursday against Asheville. He has walked one batters over his last four starts (28.2 IP).

Broadcast: This season, all 70 home games and select road games are broadcast on the Kannapolis Intimidators Baseball Network available at IntimidatorsBaseball.com and on the TuneIn Radio App with Josh Feldman, now in his fourth season with the team.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 12, 2014


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