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 Charleston Dirty Birds

WV Power Game Notes: June 28, 2015 vs. Greensboro

June 28, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Greensboro Grasshoppers (0-3, 29-43) at West Virginia Power (3-0, 40-32)

Game 73 | June 28, 2015 | Appalachian Power Park | Charleston, WV

Radio: Charleston's ESPN 104.5 & 1490 - wvpower.com Airtime: 1:45 pm

TODAY'S MATCH-UP

RHP Alex McRae (3-4, 4.02) vs. RHP Jorge Cavanerio (0-3, 3.77)

McRae: Tossed two shutout innings in relief with one walk and one strikeout on 6/21 vs. HIC (10-5 Crawdads)

Cavanerio: Allowed four runs on six hits over 6.0 IP with BB and 6 K in 6/20 L vs. KAN (4-0 Intimidators)

THE LEAD OFF: Solid pitching by the Power resulted in a 3-1 win over the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park. Stephen Tarpley started the game and worked his best start yet as a member of the Power, hurling six innings of one-run ball and allowed five hits with five strikeouts, though he received a no-decision. The offense was quiet until an RBI single by Chase Simpson in the second but the Hoppers tied the game with a sac fly in the fourth. West Virginia then plated two more in the seventh with a Taylor Gushue go-ahead RBI single and an insurance run on Jeff Roy's fielder's choice. Jake Burnette picked up the win by working two scoreless innings.

ON THE HOP: West Virginia continues the second half with game four of the five-game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers, Class A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Power lost the first two games against the Hoppers but have won six of the next eight games and are 5-1 at home against Greensboro. This five-game series is longest home series the Power have this year and will play a five-game set in Greensboro from July 8-12.

YOUNG KING COLE: West Virginia shortstop Cole Tucker is currently riding a team-best 11 game hit streak. Since June 4, Tucker has a .348 batting average (16-for-46). All told, Tucker is hitting .281, good for second-best on the Power team among all qualifying batters. The 18-year-old is hitting .315 this month, his best month of the season. The first overall selection by the Pirates last year, Tucker will turn 19 on July 3.

LOPEZ PROMOTED: Just before Saturday's game against Greensboro, the Pittsburgh Pirates promoted Power RHP Junior Lopez to the Florida State League. The all-star reliever for West Virginia, who turned 24 yesterday, went 4-1 with a 1.35 ERA and five saves in 18 games. Lopez had a streak of 18 consecutive scoreless innings from April 9 to May 26. In a corresponding roster move, the Pirates activated Dovydas Neverauskas from the disabled list.

I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLD: With the win yesterday the Power remained perfect in the second half with a 3-0 record. Entering play yesterday, West Virginia was in a first-place tie with the Delmarva Shorebirds, who were postponed yesterday. The win means the Power have sole possession of first place for the first time since April 16.

SUCHY ON A ROLL: Right fielder Michael Suchy added two more hits in Saturday's win and has four hits this series. June has been a great month for the Pirates' fifth round pick from last year. Suchy is hitting .321 this month and has a .936 OPS. The Power right fielder hit .222 in April and .245 in May.

NO BOLOGNA: Through three games in the second half, the Power bullpen remains stellar with nine innings of shutout baseball. Last night, Jake Burnette tossed two shutout innings and Dovydas Neverauskas worked a perfect ninth to record his first career save.

HIGH 'N TIGHT: Close games have been a trademark of the Power this season. Of the 72 games the Power played, 42 are decided by two runs or less. In the 11-year history of the franchise, the most games decided by two runs or less was 67 which occurred in the 2011 season.

PROMO UPDATE- JULY 4: West Virginia's Fourth of July Celebration will feature an extended version of postgame fireworks for all fans in attendance as the Power celebrate Independence Day.

POWER POINTS: The Power have laid down 50 total sacrifice bunts this season, the most in affiliated baseball...Taylor Gushue has 14 passed balls in 50 games, three shy of tying Angel Salome's 2007 club record.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh used a five-run first inning to defeat the Atlanta Braves in the series opener 8-4. Starling Marte went 3-for-4 with three runs...Indianapolis shutout Syracuse 4-0 as Brent Morel went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored while A.J. Morris tossed four shutout innings in relief...Austin Meadows had a four-hit day and scored three times as Bradenton won 7-4...The Black Bears were postponed in Auburn.

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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