SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) vs. Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) - May 19, 2014

Published on May 19, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS INTIMIDATORS vs. HICKORY CRAWDADS

21-21 (Chicago White Sox) 19-23 (Texas Rangers)

Monday, May 19, 2014 - 7:05 p.m.

CMC-NorthEast Stadium - Kannapolis, N.C.

Game #43

RH Jake Sanchez (4-1, 1.31) vs. RH Akeem Bostick (1-2, 3.93)

Today's Preview: Jake Sanchez returns to the mound when the Intimidators (A, White Sox) look to carry over momentum from Sunday's walk-off win over the Crawdads (A, Rangers) in the third game of this 4-game series. Kannapolis, which beat Hickory 6-5 in 10 innings on Sunday, now leads the season-series 7-games-to-5. Sanchez, the reigning Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year, has been one of the best arms in the South Atlantic League so far in 2014, going 4-1 with a 1.31 ERA, which ranks second-best among active arms in the league.

Promotions Preview: It's Belly Buster Monday, and all fans can enjoy all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken tenders, corn dogs, peanuts, chips, popcorn, funnel cake, and much more at the concessions stands for only $10. Some exclusions apply.

Speaking of Promotions: Relief pitcher Jose Bautista has been promoted from Kannapolis to the Class A-Advanced Winston-Salem Dash, becoming the fourth Intimidator to earn a promotion in 2014. Bautista was 1-1 with a 0.92 ERA (2 ER/19.2 IP) with 26 strikeouts in 10 games. RHP Alex Powers has been activated off the Disabled List in a corresponding move. Also today, outfielder Adam Engel was placed on the DL, and Hunter Jones rejoined the team from Extended Spring.

Intimidating Starter: Jake Sanchez, 24, makes his fifth start and 11th appearance of the season when he faces Hickory for the third time. In two relief appearances against the Crawdads, he is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and one save, working 4.0 scoreless, hitless innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Sanchez leads the SAL in average (.157), is tied for first in WHIP (0.84), and ranks second in ERA among active Sally League pitchers (former teammate Tyler Danish [3-0, 0.71 ERA] was promoted to Winston-Salem last Thursday). He is coming off a hard-luck loss at Hagerstown in a quality start. The closer-turned-starter opened his season with 18.1 scoreless innings. In his first start of the season, Sanchez struck out a career-high 10 over 6.0 scoreless innings to beat Rome on April 25. Last season, he led the Pioneer League in ERA (2.87), strikeouts (76) and opponent average (.230) and ranked third in IP (81.2). He went 6-3 in 14 starts for Advanced Rookie Great Falls and ranked second among White Sox farm hands in ERA after signing as a free agent on June 8, 2013, out of the independent Frontier League. Sanchez joined the independent Joliet Slammers in 2012 after graduating from Iowa Wesleyan.

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. Bostick was originally slated to start on Sunday before Triple-A Round Rock LHP Chad Bell made a rehab start with Hickory, pushing back Bostick.

About Last Night: Kannapolis over came a late 5-3 deficit to score runs in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings to beat Hickory, 6-5 (F/10), on Sunday. Trey Michalczewski's walk-off sacrifice fly scored Cleuluis Rondon to win the game. In the ninth, Jeremy Dowdy followed Zach Voight's double with an RBI-single to tie the game. Danny Hayes drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth to pull Kannapolis within a run. Jordan Guerrero worked 3.0 scoreless relief innings to earn the win as he combined with Andrew Mitchell to provide 5.0 scoreless relief innings.

Close As Can Be: The Intimidators improved to 9-7 in 1-run games with Sunday's win. Kannapolis is now 4-0 in 1-run games against Hickory. Additionally, while the Intimidators are just 2-6 in extra-inning games this season, both wins have come against the Crawdads, with the first at L.P. Frans Stadium on April 16, a 4-3 win in 12 innings.

Fat Lady Didn't Sing: The Intimidators scored their first win when trailing after eight innings on Sunday. Kannapolis was 0-10 when trailing after eight innings this season.

Bullish Pen: Relievers Andrew Mitchell and Jordan Guerrero combined to work five scoreless frames, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out five. The duo kept the Crawdads off the board and lowered the team's relief ERA to 2.69 (46 ER/154 IP) this season.

Walk-Off Winners: Sunday's walk-off win for Kannapolis is the team's second of the season. The previous walk-off victory came April 29 in the first game of a doubleheader against West Virginia when Carl Thomore's base hit up the middle defeated the Power, 1-0. Kannapolis had not beat Hickory in walk-off fashion since April 8, 2012, on a Leighton Pangilinan game-winning single.

The Stranded: Kannapolis left a season-high 15 men on base on Sunday, surpassing the team's previous high of 12, reached twice this season (most recently, on April 13 at Greenville).

C'mon And Take A Free Ride: The Intimidators matched their season-high by drawing nine walks on Sunday, last accomplished April 13 at Greenville. Carl Thomore, Jacob Morris, Trey Michalczewski, and Tyler Williams each drew a pair of walks in the game.

Broadcast: Today's game will be broadcast live on IntimidatorsBaseball.com beginning at 6:50 p.m. Josh Feldman will broadcast all 70 home games and select road games in 2014.

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