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SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) vs. Hagerstown Suns (Nationals) - May 19, 2013

May 19, 2013 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS INTIMIDATORS (15-24) vs. HAGERSTOWN SUNS (24-15)

TEAM PHOTO GIVEAWAY PRESENTED BY CITY OF KANNAPOLIS

KIDS DAY PRESENTED BY DENTISTRY OF THE CAROLINAS

Sunday, May 19, 2013 - 5:05 p.m.

CMC-NorthEast Stadium - Kannapolis, N.C.

Game #40 (15-24) - Home Game #17 (5-11)

LHP Jefferson Olacio (1-5, 6.75) vs. RHP Dixon Anderson (3-1, 2.43)

Today's Preview: The Kannapolis Intimidators (A, White Sox) play for a series split against the first-place Hagerstown Suns (A, Nationals) in the finale of this four-game series. Jefferson Olacio, the lone lefty in the Intimiators rotation, takes the ball against Dixon Anderson for the Suns as both pitchers are looking for revenge against their opponent. Olacio and Anderson both took losses in their only starts against the Suns and Intimidators respectively. Kannapolis is coming off a 5-0 shutout of Hagerstown on Saturday, snapping a 5-game losing skid to gain a game on the first-place Suns. The Intimidators are 9.0 games back and will try to climb out of the SAL Northern Division cellar with a win today.

Intimidating Starter: Jefferosn Olacio, 19, makes his eighth start of the season as he looks to avenge a 2012 home loss to the Suns. The 6'7" southpaw is 1-1 with a 5.54 ERA in three home starts this season with 12 strikeouts in 13 innings. He is coming off his fifth loss of the season, which ties him for third-most in the league. 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. The White Sox signed Olacio as a Free Agent in October 2010, and he made his professional debut for the DSL Whit Sox in 2011, striking out 42 over 38 innings, going 3-5 with a 5.50 ERA in 11 starts.

Hagerstown Hurler: Dixon Anderson, 23, makes his SAL-lead-tying ninth start for the Suns. He ranks fifth on the circuit in WHIP (1.01), 13th in innings pitched (40.2) and 15th in ERA. His numbers aren't quite as good on the road, where he has walked 11 batters in 22 innings compared to one walk over 18.2 frames in Hagerstown, but he is still 2-0 with a 2.86 ERA in five away starts. Intimidators batters should be mindful when crowding the plate as Anderson is tied for the SAL lead with nine hit batters this season. Anderson, like Suns second baseman Tony Renda and former Intimidators Marcus Semien and Erik Johnson, was a part of the California Golden Bears team that went to the College World Series in 2011. The Nationals selected him in the ninth round in the June 2011 draft and he made his professional debut in 2012, splitting the season between the GCL Nationals and Hagerstown. He faced Kannapolis in his Class A debut last season but failed to escape the first inning, allowing five runs (two earned) on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts over two-thirds of a frame.

Micah on the Move: Leadoff man and second baseman Micah Johnson stole second base after a first inning single on Saturday, his MiLB-leading 39th this year, 11 ahead of the next closest Minor Leaguer (San Antonio's Rico Noel, 28). He went on to score a run, his SAL-lead- tying 37th of the season. He has stolen 18 bases over his last 11 games. Johnson also leads the league with 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.

Making his OWN name: Infielder Michael Johnson continued to produce at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a triple, a walk and two runs scored, reaching base safely in all four of his plate appearance on Saturday against the Suns. He raised his average to .308 on the season, tied for 12th in the SAL, and has now reached base safely in 13 straight games, the longest current streak by an Intimidator. His .420 on-base percentage is tied for seventh in the SAL. In May, Johnson is batting . 455 (17-39), the second-best average in the league, with hits in 11 of 13 games played this month. His .564 on-base percentage in May is second-best in the league and his 1.179 OPS is third. The Sox selected him in the 31st round in June 2011.

When the Suns go down: Kannapolis handed Hagerstown their 15 loss on Saturday, fewest among SAL squads. Hagerstown is now 13-4 over their last 17 games.

Swing And Miss: Three Intimidators pitchers combined to strike out 14 Suns on Saturday, the second-most strikeouts by Kannapolis arms this season (15 at Lexington, May 13). Jake Cose struck out seven over 4.0 innings, Stew Brase fanned one in a scoreless fifth, and Adam Lopez whiffed six over the final 4.0 innings, setting a new career high.

Roster Musical Chairs: The Intimidators made a season-high eight roster moves today, as infielder Eric Grabe - a 2012 Appalachian League All-Star - joins the team from extended spring along with outfielder Juan Ramirez. Catcher Michael Marjama has been activated off the DL, and catcher/infielder Brent Tanner has returned from Winston-Salem, where he was hitting .333 in 13 games with the Dash. In corresponding roster moves, the White Sox released Kyle Robinson and Ruben Sierra Jr. while sending catchers Angel Rosario and Zach Fisher back to Extended Spring Training.

Radio Broadcasts: Tonight's game and all 70 Intimidators home games plus select road games will be carried live on intimidatorsbaseball.com with Josh Feldman on the call.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 19, 2013


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