SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators vs. GreenJackets - Game Notes - June 21, 2013

June 21, 2013 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


Today's Preview: Brandon Brennan takes the mound in search of his third straight win for the Intimidators (A, White Sox) in the second game of a 4-game series against the GreenJackets (A, Giants) at Augusta's Lake Olmstead Stadium. Kannapolis dropped the second half opener on Thursday, 5-1, to the GreenJackets, ending a four-game win streak that closed the first half of the season. Augusta has now won four straight games against Kannapolis, including a three-game sweep at CMC-NorthEast Stadium in mid-June. The GreenJackets lead the season- series 6-2.

Intimidating Starters: Brandon Brennan, 21, makes his 14th start and his second in Augusta as he looks for his second win against the GreenJackets and his third straight victory. He finished the first half of the season with back-to-back wins at Greensboro and against Rome. In his last outing on June 13, Brennan gave up one run over 6 2/3 innings, just his second start this year allowing one run.

After allowing a leadoff double in the first, Brennan held the next 23 Braves batters hitless, not surrendering a second hit until there were two outs in the seventh inning. He struck out six batters, one shy of his career high and walked two. He still leads the SAL in hits allowed (91), runs allowed (59) and earned runs allowed (50), and he is tied for the most losses in the league with teammate Euclides Leyer (nine). The White Sox selected Brennan in the fourth round in June 2012 out of Orange Coast (Calif.) College where he was 11-1 with a 1.25 ERA.

Augusta's Arm: Joan Gregorio, 21, makes his seventh start of the season and second against the Intimidators. He earned a win in Kannapolis on June 11, his final start of the first half, holding the Intimidators to a seaon-high three runs on eight hits over 6.0 innings of work. In three of his six starts this year, he has struck out eight or more batters, including a career high 10 against Lexington on April 17. He spent last season with Short-Season Salem-Kaizer, going 7-7 with a 5.54 ERA in 16 starts after a strong US-debut in 2011 with the AZL Giants, going 3-0 with a 2.32 ERA in 12 starts. He made his pro debut with the DSL Giants in 2010.

League-Leading Leyer: Following Thursday's start in Augusta, Euclides Leyer is now tied for the South Atlantic League lead in games started (14) as well as losses (nine). He leads the circuit in at-bats against (288), total batters faced (335), hit batters (12), and ranks fourth in innings pitched (73.1). Also on Thursday, Leyer's younger brother Robinson made his season debut as the Opening Day starter for the Advanced Rookie Bristol White Sox, working a perfect inning with a strikeout in a no decision.

Micah Mashes: Micah Johnson continued to assault South Atlantic League pitching on Thursday, blasting his team-leading sixth home run to lead off the fourth inning. The Minor League leader in stolen bases is doing much more than running as he remains among league leaders in several offensive categories (see attached notes for SAL/MiLB rankings).

New Faces: Tim Anderson, the White Sox first round pick in the 2013 draft, and Keon Barnum, a 2012 supplemental first rounder, joined the Intimidators on Thursday as part of 12 roster moves affecting the roster. Anderson went 0-4 with two strikeouts and committed a fielding error at shorstop in his professional debut last night. Barnum, a first baseman, started his season 1-3 with a base hit. Kannapolis also received RHP Kyle McMillen, RHP Dave Cales and C/INF Brent Tanner on Thursday.

Check out the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from June 21, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central