SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) vs. Delmarva Shorebirds (Orioles) - July 3, 2014

Published on July 3, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS INTIMIDATORS vs. DELMARVA SHOREBIRDS

11-3, 40-41 (Chicago White Sox)

6-8, 44-39 (Baltimore Orioles)

Thursday, July 3, 2014 - 7:05 p.m.

CMC-NorthEast Stadium - Kannapolis, N.C.

2nd Half Game #15 (82 of 137)

RH Robinson Leyer (4-4, 2.82) vs. LH Luis Gonzalez (2-0, 2.65)

. A Patriotic Preview: The Intimidators (A, White Sox) look to sweep a 7-game home stand by completing a 3-game sweep of the Delmarva Shorebirds (A, Orioles) at CMC-NorthEast Stadium. Kannapolis has won eight straight games since June 25, its longest winning streak since 2012, after picking up a 6-4 win on Wednesday over Delmarva. The Intimidators (11-3) remain 1.0 game back of first place Hickory (12-2) in the SAL Northern Division Second Half standings.

Independence Day Fireworks: On Friday, July 4, fans are invited back to CMC-NorthEast Stadium for our All-American Community Celebration & Fireworks presented by the City of Kannapolis. Independence Day festivities include inflatables for the kids, an apple pie baking contest, a little league game, an on-field patriotic parade for kids, and the best fireworks show of the year.

Stars & Striped Starter: Robinson Leyer, 21, makes his team-leading 16th start and second against the Shorebirds. He currently ranks 10th in the SAL with a 2.82 ERA. Leyer has had one of the hottest arms in the Minors since mid-April, 4-2 with a 1.59 ERA (13 ER/73.2 IP) in his last 13 starts, the sixth-lowest ERA in all full-season minor leagues since April 16. He is coming off 6.0 scoreless innings on June 28 in a no decision on June 28. In his last six starts, Leyer has allowed two earned runs in a game just once. He dominated the month of June, going 1-1 with a 1.16 ERA (4 ER/31 IP) in five starts. Leyer faced the Shorebirds on May 24, allowing seven runs (three earned) on nine hits over 5.2 innings. The younger brother of former Intimidator Euclides Leyer, he spent 2013 with Advanced Rookie Bristol, going 2-7 with a 6.35 ERA in 13 starts.

Great Britain's Birds: Luis Gonzalez, 22, makes his eighth start and second against the Intimidators in today's series finale. He took no decision against Kannapolis on May 24, striking out a career-high nine batters while allowing two runs on five hits over 5.0 innings. He is coming off a rough outing on June 28 at Hagerstown in which he gave up four runs on four hits over 3.0 innings in a no decision. Gonzalez has been better at home for the Shorebirds, going 1-0 with a 1.56 ERA in four games in Delmarva while going 1-0 with a 3.78 ERA in four road starts. Gonzalez is in his first year of full-season ball and his second year in the Orioles organization after spending his first three years with the Phillies (2010-2012). After pitching for the DSL Phillies, GCL Phillies and Short-Season Williamsport, he joined Baltimore last year, going 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA in nine games for the DSL Orioles.

Battle between Lexington and Concord (N.C.): On Wednesday in Kannapolis, the Intimidators won an eighth straight game behind Carl Thomore's second inning grand slam to beat Delmarva, 6-4. Ryan Leonards, who joined the team from Great Falls yesterday, added his first professional home run in the fifth, and Adam Engel followed with a triple and run scored for a 6-1 lead. Delmarva rallied for three runs in the ninth but couldn't get over the hump. Thad Lowry matched his career-high, tossing 6.0 strong innings and allowing an unearned run to pick up the win. Brad Salgado made his Class A debut on the mound, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings. Steven Brault (7-5) took the loss.

Uncle Slam: Carl Thomore's go-ahead grand slam off Steven Brault was the first for Kannapolis this season. The last Intimidator to hit a grand slam was Adam Heisler, who went yard against Lakewood's Jonathan Musser on Aug. 13, 2013. All of Thomore's career-high 4 RBIs came on his second-inning slam, matching the most RBI by an Intimidator in a single game this season.

Bombs Bursting In Air: Kannapolis has picked up its home run rate lately. After belting just 15 home runs over the first two months of the season, the Intimidators hit 21 in June and have hit four through the first two games of July. Trey Michalczewski leads the team with eight HR, and Danny Hayes ranks second on the squad with six.

One if by land, Two if by sea, Eight if by Kannapolis: The Intimidators have won a season-high eight straight games, the team's longest winning streak since winning nine in a row May 25-June 3, 2012. Kannapolis has also won a season-high six straight at home.

Revolutionary Radio: 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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