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Charleston Dirty Birds

WV Power Game Notes: April 14, 2015 vs. Hagerstown

April 14, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Hagerstown Suns (1-4) at West Virginia Power (4-1)

Game #6 | April 14, 2015 | Appalachian Power Park | Charleston, WV

Radio: Charleston's ESPN 104.5 & 1490 - wvpower.com Airtime: 6:45 p.m.

TODAY'S MATCH-UP

RHP Jake Burnette (0-0, 3.00) vs. RHP Austen Williams (0-1, 2.25)

Williams: Allowed 3 R (1 ER) on 6 H over 4.0 IP in loss at Hickory (5-2 Crawdads)

Burnette: Surrendered 1 R on 3 H over 3.0 IP with 5 K in no-decision vs. Savannah (7-6 Power (10))

THE LEAD OFF: Another solid start by Power pitching led to West Virginia's fifth win of the year, a 3-1 final against the Hagerstown Suns on Monday night in Charleston. John Sever tallied the first win of his South Atlantic League career with five shutout innings, five strikeouts and only one walk issued. Offensively, West Virginia tallied a pair of runs in the second when Tyler Filliben was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Trace Tam Sing drew a bases-loaded walk immediately after. Taylor Gushue capped the scoring with a solo homer to lead off the third as West Virginia starts the season 4-1 for the first time in franchise history.

ROUND TWO: West Virginia gears up for the second game of the three game set against Hagerstown on Tuesday night with RHP Jake Burnette making his second start of the year. Burnette struck out five in his first start of 2015 on Opening Day but didn't factor into the decision. The right hander is opposed by Hagerstown righty Austen Williams who suffered a loss in his first start after he gave up three runs (one earned) over four innings in Hickory.

HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN: The Power look to improve on their rough 2014 against Hagerstown where they went 3-7. This year, West Virginia will see the Suns a total of 17 times with six games played in Charleston and 11 in Maryland. Since 2005, Hagerstown has had West Virginia's number as the Power trail the all-time series 72-62.

HEAVY WORKLOAD: West Virginia's bullpen has seen a lot of action early on in 2015. Of the 46 total innings West Virginia has played, the bullpen has tossed 26.1 innings. While the starting pitchers are currently limited to five innings maximum per start, three out of the five starting pitchers have reached the five-inning cap.

REGALADO PROMOTED: The Pittsburgh Pirates made a roster move that impacts the West Virginia Power roster. RHP Jose Regalado joins the Power from extended spring training and will be a member of the West Virginia bullpen. As a corresponding roster move, the Pirates have transferred infielder Erik Forgione to the short-season West Virginia Black Bears. Regalado went 6-3 with a 5.70 ERA in 15 games with Jamestown in 2014 and was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2011.

NEW CAPTAIN AT THE HELM: Brian Esposito became the eighth manager in West Virginia Power history after he spent all of last season with short-season Jamestown. Esposito played professionally for 13 years, including time with the Colorado, Houston, and Chicago Cubs organizations before joining the Pirates as a player/coach in 2013.

WHO TO WATCH FOR: West Virginia's 2015 Opening Day roster features several prospects featured in popular publications. Leading the prospect rankings is shortstop Cole Tucker. Rated by Baseball America as the number eight prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Tucker was drafted 24th overall in last year's draft. Outfielder Tito Polo is tabbed by B.A. as the No. 29 prospect and catcher Taylor Gushue is rated by MiLB.com as the No. 28 prospect.

POWER PROMO UPDATE- APRIL 25: The West Virginia Power will honor the 1990 Charleston Wheelers, the last team to bring a South Atlantic League title to Charleston. The entire team will be inducted into the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame and the first 1,000 fans will receive a commemorative t-shirt celebrating the 25th anniversary of the championship.

POWER POINTS: Cole Tucker is the youngest player on the Power and is also the only teenager on the current roster...Chase Simpson and Jerrick Suiter have reached base safely in all five games played this season...Tito Polo has the longest active hit streak at four games.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Josh Harrison's leadoff home run in the first inning set the mood for Pittsburgh's home opener...Indianapolis shutout Toledo 5-0 as six different Tribe hitters tallied multi-hit games...Zack Dodson went five scoreless but Double-A Altoona lost 10-3...JaCoby Jones blasted a three-run home run and added an RBI double but Bradenton fell to Dunedin 9-6.

ON THE AIR: West Virginia Power games can be heard on Charleston's ESPN 104.5 FM and 1490 AM in Charleston, online at wvpower.com and on the TuneIn Radio App. Adam Marco will call the action once again and will be joined by Mike Baggerman when the team plays at Appalachian Power Park.

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