SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) vs. Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) - May 18, 2014

Published on May 18, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS INTIMIDATORS vs. HICKORY CRAWDADS

20-21 (Chicago White Sox) 19-22 (Texas Rangers)

Sunday, May 18, 2014 - 5:05 p.m.

CMC-NorthEast Stadium - Kannapolis, N.C.

Game #42

RH Robinson Leyer (2-2, 4.22) vs. RH Akeem Bostick (1-2, 3.93)

Today's Preview: The Intimidators (A, White Sox) look to snap a 3-game slide as they face the Crawdads (A, Rangers) for the second game of this 4-game series. Robinson Leyer, who has been one of the league's best pitchers over the last month, faces Texas prospect Akeem Bostick. The Intimidators are trying to avoid a third 4-game losing streak today while the Crawdads can even the season series against Kannapolis with a win today.

Promotions Preview: It's Kid's Day Sunday at the ballpark presented by Cornerstone Church. All kids tickets are only $5, plus Intimidators players will be available for pre-game autographs. After the game, kids can run the bases. Today is also Mascot Mania as several of Tim E. Gator's furry friends will be joining him throughout the game.

Here's To You Mr. Robinson: Robinson Leyer, 21, makes his team-leading eighth start and his third against Hickory. He has not allowed an earned run in his last two starts (11.0 innings). The Dominican right-hander has been one of the hottest arms in the SAL over the last month, going 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA (3 ER/26 IP) in his last five starts, the sixth-best ERA in the SAL since April 16. He is coming off a scores outing at Hagerstown, equaling a career-high with 6.0 innings pitched in a no decision - the longest scoreless outing of his career. Against the Crawdads, Leyer is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/10.2 IP), allowing four unearned runs on eight hits while striking out 13 and walking three. Hickory is batting .195 (8-41) against Leyer. The younger brother of former Intimidator Euclides Leyer (who is with High-A Winston-Salem), Robinson spent 2013 with Advanced Rookie Bristol, going 2-7 with a 6.35 ERA over 13 starts. Leyer made 13 starts in his professional debut in 2012 with the DSL White Sox, going 1-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 13 starts.

Prince Akeem: Akeem Bostick, who turned 19 two weeks ago, makes his eighth start of the season and second against the Intimidators. In his lone start against Kannapolis, Bostick gave up three runs on five hits over 4.0 innings, taking no decision on April 16. He is coming off a win at Augusta, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out a season-high five over 6.0 innings. Bostick entered 2014 rated by Baseball America as one of the Rangers Top 30 Prospects after going 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 14 games (six starts) with the AZL Rangers in 2013.

About Last Night: Hickory's Cole Wiper combined with three relievers to limit the Intimidators to a season-low 3 hits in a 4-1 Intimidators loss on Saturday. The Crawdads hit a pair of home runs, by Nick Vickerson (3) and Kellin Deglan (4) to provide the margin of victory, and Kannapolis failed to score until the ninth inning when Tyler Shryock drove in Carl Thomore on a groundout. Thaddius Lowry suffered the loss in his Class A debut, despite a strong showing over 5.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out four. Cody Kendall picked up the save (1).

Fewer Hits Than MC Hammer: Kannapolis collected a season-low three hits on Saturday, the team's fewest in a nine-inning game this season. The Intimidators also had three hits in the first game on a May 11 doubleheader at Hagerstown (7-innings). The last time Kannapolis had fewer than three hits in a game was July 23, 2013, when the team was 1-hit at West Virginia.

Not John Voight: Zach Voight went 1-4 on Saturday, his fourth straight game with a hit. The infielder is batting .281 (9-32) in May after hitting .214 (9-42) in April. Voight opened his season batting .182 (4-22) in his first seven games but is batting .269 (14-52) since April 24. He spent his last two seasons with Advanced Rookie Great Falls, batting .324 with a .446 on-base percentage. On Friday night, he hit his first home run of the season and seventh of his career.

Leading Man: Danny Hayes is batting .379 (11-29) when leading off an inning this season, with five extra-base hits (three doubles, a triple, and a home run). The Intimidators No. 3 hitter has also faired much better away from Kannapolis, batting .311 on the road and just .234 at home.

Carl in the Clutch: Outfielder Carl Thomore is batting .381 (8-21) with runners in scoring position and two outs this season. His biggest hit came against West Virginia on April 29 in the first game of a doubleheader when Thomore's walk-off single drove in the game-winning run.

Broadcast: Today's game will be broadcast live on IntimidatorsBaseball.com beginning at 4:50 p.m. Josh Feldman will broadcast all 70 home games and select road games in 2014.

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