SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators vs. Braves - Game Notes - June 13, 2013

Published on June 13, 2013 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


Today's Preview: The Intimidators (A, White Sox) wrap up the first half of the season with a four-game home stand against the Rome Braves (A, Braves) starting Thursday at CMC-NorthEast Stadium. Kannapolis is playing for its 50th win over Rome dating back to 2003 when the Braves franchise relocated from Macon. The Intimidators will send Brandon Brennan to the mound in search of a second consecutive win after he tasted victory last Saturday in Greensboro. Brennan, the Sox fourth- round pick in last June's draft, had endured a streak of seven straight losses prior to his last outing. Today he'll get his first look at a Braves affiliate when he duels Rome's Frank La Freniere Intimidating Starters: Brandon Brennan, 21, makes his 13th start of the season and first against Rome. While he leads the SAL with nine losses, he has shown flashes of brilliance, including a career-long 8.0-inning outing against Savannah in his last start at home, albeit in a losing effort. He notched a win at Greensboro last Saturday, ending a string of losses in seven straight starts from April 27 through June 1. Baseball America rated Brennan the No. 23 Prospect in the White Sox system after a strong professional debut with Advanced Rookie Great Falls in 2012. He went 3-2 with a 4.34 ERA for the Voyagers in 14 games (seven starts). The Sox drafted him in the fourth round out of Orange Coast (Calif.) College, where he went 11-1 with a 1.25 ERA.

Rome's Righty: Frank Lafreniere, who turned 23 last week, makes his 10th of the season but just his second since May 18. The Canadian- born right-hander worked in relief in his last three outings, including a pair of 4.0-inning relief appearances. In nine starts, Lafreniere is 2-3 with a 5.48 ERA compared to 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA in four relief appearances. He faced the Intimidators on April 25, giving up six runs (four earned) on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings, taking no decision in Kannapolis. The Braves drafted him in the 47th round of the June 2010 draft, and he spent his first two years of pro ball in the GCL before joining Advanced Rookie Danville in 2012, going 5-2 with a 4.02 ERA in 12 starts. Lefties are batting .302 against Lafreniere compared to .277 for righties.

About Last Night: The GreenJackets scored five unanswered runs on Wednesday en route to a 5-3 win over the Intimidators, securing a three-game sweep in Kannapolis. Joe Biagini earned the win for Augusta, working 5.0 innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits, while Euclides Leyer suffered the loss, working 6.0 innings and giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits.

Three For Grabe: Third baseman Eric Grabe went 3-4 on Wednesday, his third multi-hit game and first 3-hit game of the year. He had two RBI, equaling a season-high. The Sox 24th round pick in the 2012 draft led the Appalachian League with a .357 average last season and was named by Baseball America as the Best Defensive Player in the White Sox 2012 draft class.

Double Your Pleasure: Michael Johnson doubled twice on Wednesday, going 2-4 for the 12th two-double game by an Intimidator this season. Johnson is batting .290 (51-176), 15th-best in the SAL, and his on- base percentage (.389) is 14th on the circuit.

A Loss for Leyer: Euclides Leyer (2-8) suffered his eighth loss of the season, tying for the second-most in the SAL. He is tied with teammate Jefferson Olacio (2-8) and Shane Broyles (1-8) of Asheville for the fifth-most losses in the Minors. Despite taking the loss, Leyer displayed flashes with his fastball on Wednesday, sitting between 94-96 with his heater, however he struggled with control, walking three batters and plunking two. Off on the Wrong Foot: The Intimidators are 3-16 in series openers this season (.158), including a loss in the first of three games in Rome's previous trip to Kannapolis.

Micah Goes Streaking: All-Star second baseman Micah Johnson went 1-5 Wednesday to hit safely in eight straight games, equaling a season high. He is batting .419 (13-31) from June 5-12. Johnson leads the Minors with 50 stolen bases, 10 ahead of Louisville speedster Billy Hamilton (40). He has scored 59 runs this season, tied for second-most in the Minors. Johnson is batting .325 (79-243), tied for eighth in the SAL with Rome's Josh Elander. Johnson also ranks fifth in the SAL with 243 at-bats.

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