SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators Return from Road Trip with League-Best 6-1 Record

Published on April 15, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


Friday, April 15th, 2011 --- 7:05 p.m. --- Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium

Game 8 of 139 (1st Half Game 8 of 69)

Kannapolis Intimidators (6-1) vs. Hickory Crawdads (5-3)

Series: Game 1 of 4

RHP Jake Petricka (0-0, 0.00, 2nd start) vs. RHP Matt Thompson (0-1, 9.00, 2nd start)

TODAY'S GAME NOTES

Welcome Home... The Kannapolis Intimidators take the field tonight at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium for the first time in 2011, returning from a 7-game season-opening road trip with a league-best 6-1 mark. Starting pitcher Jake Petricka is rated as the 7th best prospect in the White Sox organization by Baseball America. Last season the right-hander made his professional debut with the Bristol White Sox before being promoted to Kannapolis.

Doing It For Dale... Saturday, April 16, the Intimidators will debut the team's new alternate logo. The logo, which was unveiled in December, features a red scripted letter "I" with the silhouette of former team owner and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. The Intimidators will wear the alternate logos seven times during the 2011 season, once for each Winston Cup Championship won by the original Intimidator in his Hall of Fame career.

Baby, You're A Firework... Tomorrow's game will feature a post-game fireworks show, presented by CMC-NorthEast.

About Last Night... The Kannapolis Intimidators took advantage of timely free passes from the Delmarva Shorebirds pitching staff en route to a 9-5 win at Perdue Stadium on Thursday night. The Intimidators scored four runs off of bases-loaded walks or hit batters as they completed the series sweep and improved to 6-1 on the young season. The offense came to life early for Kannapolis as RF Kenny Gilbert connected on a three-run homerun (1) in the top of the second off Shorebirds starter Tim Adleman for an early 3-0 lead. Gilbert finished the game 1-for-4 with 4 RBI.

The Intimidators traded in power for patience at the plate in the third inning. Adleman hit 2B Ross Wilson to lead off the inning, and LF Brady Shoemaker singled him over to second. After consecutive outs, the DH Juan Silverio's single loaded the bases. Needing only one out to get out of the jam, Adleman walked Gilbert and 3B Jesse Oester and hit SS Kyle Eveland, giving the Intimidators three more runs, extending the lead to 6-0.

Delmarva responded with two runs in the bottom of the third on RBI groundouts from Trent Mummey and Mychael Givens. Trailing 7-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Delmarva's offense showed signs of life. With a runner on first and two outs, Kipp Shutz singled and Intimidators LHP Miguel Negron walked Kieron Pope to load the bases. Jonathan Schoop singled to right field, however Gilbert misplayed the ball, giving all three runners the opportunity to score, putting the Shorebirds back within striking distance, 7-5.

Kannapolis remained even-keel, however, loading the bases in the eighth off Cameron Roth before Jason Gurka took the mound and plunked Shoemaker, bringing home another run for the Intimidators. Silverio led off the top of the ninth with his third homerun of the season as Kannapolis pulled away, 9-5. Manager Tommy Thompson allowed his bullpen to work this game, as RHP Steven Upchurch made his first start of the season, working three innings and striking out five batters before RHP Chase Cooney (1-0) took over with three scoreless innings pitched, earning the win. Negron worked the seventh inning, and RHP Jake Wilson shut down the Shorebirds over the final two innings.

Slugging Silverio... Juan Silverio led off the ninth inning of Thursday's game with a solo homerun, his third straight game with a homerun. Silverio is tied for the South Atlantic League lead for long balls so far this season (Brandon Jacobs, GVL; Josh Mazzola, AUG; JR Murphy, CSC).

Going Streaking... The Intimidators have won six straight games, more than at any point in 2010. It's the longest winning streak for Kannapolis since winning 12 in a row during the 2009 season (August 15-27).

Check out the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 15, 2011


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