SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators vs. Shorebirds - Game Notes - August 9, 2013

Published on August 9, 2013 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


Today's Preview: A day after seeing their three-game winning streak come to an end, the Intimidators (A, White Sox) will try to get back on the winning track when they take on the Shorebirds (A, Orioles) in the second game of a four-game series. Today, Adam Lopez makes his third start after opening his career in the bullpen. He'll duel left- hander Matt Taylor, who held Kannapolis scoreless over his first 7.0 innings of work when he faced the Intimidators in July. Delmarva not lost a game in Kannapolis this season and leads the season series, 6-4.

Intimidating Starter: Adam Lopez, 23, makes his third start and his third appearance against the Shorebirds. He has worked a total of 4.0 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and a walk against Delmarva. Lopez leads the Intimidators with 96 strikeouts. As a reliever, he leads the SAL in Highest SO/9 IP Ratio at 13.65 (90 K/59.1 relief IP). In his last seven games, Lopez has a 1.71 ERA (5 ER/26.1 IP) with 34 strikeouts and five walks, including striking out a career-high nine batters over 4.0 scoreless innings at Hickory on July 5. He opened the year 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA in 18 games in the first half but has gone 0-2 with a 1.97 ERA in nine 2nd Half games (two starts). The right- handed hurler is holding left-handed hitters to a .151 average (13-86) and opposing hitters to a .226 average overall. The White Sox selected Lopez in the 21st round in the June 2012 draft out of Virginia Military Institute.

Dealing for Delmarva: Matt Taylor, 22, makes his 21st start of the season and his second against Kannapolis. He took no decision in a quality outing against Kannapolis, allowing three runs on nine hits over 7 2/3 innings, a game the Shorebirds eventually won, 4-3, on July 19. This year, Taylor struggled in June, going 0-3 with a 5.03 ERA in four starts, but he enjoyed a dominant July, going 1-3 with a 1.85 ERA (8 ER/39 IP) in six starts. The left-hander is limiting left-handed hitters to a .168 average (16-95) while opponents are batting .242 overall against Taylor this seaso. Taylor's 3.18 ERA is 11th best in the SAL. He is in his second season with Class A Delmarva after going 5-7 with a 4.33 ERA in 23 games (12 starts) in 2012. He went 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA (6 ER/17.2 IP) in five games (two starts) against Kannapolis last season. The Orioles selected him in the fifth round of the June 2011 draft.

Last Time Out: The Shorebirds spoiled the White Sox debut for Francellis Montas, topping the Intimidators, 4-3, on Thursday. Montas, whom the White Sox acquired last week as part of the deadline trade that sent Jake Peavy to the Red Sox, opened with three perfect innings, striking out three along the way. He got into trouble in the fourth as the Shorebirds took advantage of two walks while scoring a pair of runs on two hits to break a scoreless tie. Adrian Marin led off the fifth inning with a home run (3), and Gregory Lorenzo singled and stole his way into scoring position before eventually scoring on a Lucas Herbst sac-fly for a 4-0 lead. Montas (2-10) suffered the loss while Delmarva's starter Luc Rennie spun 7.0 innings and allowed one unearned run on seven hits for the win. Rennie (3-3) struck out five and walked two. Kannapolis scored in the seventh inning when Kale Kiser singled and advanced to second base on an error. Nick Basto followed with a base hit to put the Intimidators on the board. Trailing 4-1 entering the ninth inning, Brent Tanner drew a lead off walk -- one of three on the night to tie his career-high. Kiser then flew a ball to right field where Delmarva's Lucas Herbst dropped the out, setting up runners in scoring position and the tying run at the plate with no outs in the ninth inning. Nick Basto and Jacob May added a pair of sac-flies to pull Kannapolis within one, but Sander Beck struck out Tim Anderson with the tying run on base to end the game. Beck earned the save (2) with 2.0 innings of relief.

Heisler Knitted: Outfielder Adam Heisler, who rejoined the Intimidators from Winston-Salem on Monday, has been promoted today to Triple-A Charlotte. There is no corresponding move at this time. Heisler has hit safely in his last 11 games in the SAL, reaching base safely in all 22 games he has played with Kannapolis. He is batting . 317 (13-41) with a home run, double, triple, five RBI and five runs scored in his last 12 games with Kannapolis, from April 16 to Aug. 6. In his time with Kannapolis, Heisler owns a slash of .313/.412/.438 in 22 games. During his time with High-A Winston-Salem, he hit .272 with three home runs, eight doubles, six triples and 30 RBI in 58 games in the Carolina League.

Intimidating the Major Leagues: Charlie Leesman, who spent 2008-09 with Kannapolis, is making his MLB debut tonight for the Chicago White Sox, starting the second game of today's doubleheader against Minnesota. He was promoted today from Triple-A Charlotte. Leesman is 3-1 with a 3.47 ERA in 13 starts for the Knights this season. After making one start for the Intimidators in 2008, he spent his 2009 campaign in Kannapolis, going 13-5 with a 3.08 ERA, leading the team in wins, ERA, starts (27), IP (157.2) and finishing third in strikeouts (117).

Dashing Debut: Mike Recchia, who went 5-0 with a 1.45 ERA in 11 games (eight starts) for the Intimidators this season, will make his High-A debut today for the Winston-Salem Dash. Recchia was promoted on Tuesday. He had allowed just two run over his last 34.0 innings.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 9, 2013


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