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WV Power Game Notes: September 3, 2015 at Kannapolis
September 3, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
West Virginia Power (46-19, 83-51) at Kannapolis Intimidators (28-36, 63-70)
Game 135 | September 3, 2015 | Intimidators Stadium | Charleston, WV
Radio: Charleston's ESPN 104.5 & 1490 - wvpower.com Airtime: 6:45 pm
TONIGHT'S MATCH-UP
RH Colten Brewer (5-9, 4.81) vs. RH Kelvis Valerio (2-2, 4.40)
Brewer: Surrendered one run on four hits over 6.2 IP with 3 BB and 4 K in 8/29 W vs. LEX (8-1 Power)
Valerio: Allowed four runs on seven hits over 5.0 IP with 2 BB and 2 K in 8/29 W @ HAG (9-4 Intimidators)
THE LEADOFF: West Virginia rallied from a 6-1 deficit to defeat the Lexington Legends 12-9 on Wednesday night at Appalachian Power Park. Down by five, the Power rallied to within a run thanks to a four-run fourth and took the lead with a five-run fifth. Elvis Escobar tied the game with a bases-loaded single to right and one pitch later, West Virginia took the lead on a wild pitch.Chase Simpson added two more across on a double in the fifth. Simpson finished the game 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs while Escobar went 3-for-5 with a triple and three runs scored. Seven of the nine hitters in the Power lineup had a multi-hit effort. Jake Burnette (5-4) picked up the win in relief.
REVERSE INTIMIDATION: With five games left, the Power have a single-season, franchise-best 83 victories. The 2007 club originally set franchise record of 82 wins and that total was matched in 2013. West Virginia wraps up the regular season with five games in Kannapolis, a team the Power have split the season series with at five wins apiece. Following this set against the Intimidators, the Power begin postseason play.
SEPTEMBER CALL-UPS: The Pittsburgh Pirates expanded their roster on Tuesday and promoted former West Virginia catcher Elias Diaz. Diaz spent two seasons with the Power in 2011 and 2012, then broke out last season in Double-A with a .328 clip. This season, Diaz was hitting .271 in 93 games with Indianapolis. Prior to play on Wednesday, the Cincinnati Reds called up former Power catcher Ramon Cabrera. In the history of the Power, 46 players have gone on to play in the majors.
NOTHING BEATS HOME COOKING: West Virginia won 48 games at Appalachian Power Park this season, the most in the franchise and tied for the most in professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals. The last team to win 48 games at home in the South Atlantic League were the Savannah Sand Gnats in the 2011 season. The Columbus Catfish won 50 home games in the 2009 season.
TWO GOOD: Tuesday saw the South Atlantic League announce the selection of the 2015 Postseason All-Star Team. Yeudy Garcia was tabbed as both the "Most Outstanding Pitcher" and the "Top Right-Handed Pitcher". Garcia is 12-5 and leads the league with a 2.01 ERA. Power right fielder Michael Suchy was named one of the outfielders as voted on by the league's field managers, coaches, general managers, sportswriters, and media relations staff. Suchy, a fifth round selection by the Pirates last season, is hitting .277 with ten home runs and 73 RBIs, the second most in the circuit.
FALL GUYS: On Tuesday afternoon, the Pirates announced the players who will be participating in the Arizona Fall League. Five former Power players will participate in the prestigious fall league including catcher Reese McGuire, outfielder Austin Meadows, and pitchers Cody Dickson and Brett McKinney. Robby Rowland, who pitched for the Power in 2012 and 2014 will also participate as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals organization. The Pirates prospects will play for the Glendale Desert Dogs while Rowland will play for the Surprise Saguaros.
PROMO UPDATE- SEPTEMBER 9: The Power will host the first game of the 2015 Northern Division Championship Series against the Hickory Crawdads on Wednesday, September 9. All fans will receive a free general admission ticket when picked up at least a day in advance (maximum of ten tickets). The free tickets are courtesy of Suddenlink, Proud Eagle, Thomas Hospital, MVB Bank, and the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
POWER POINTS: The Power front office unveiled a new tertiary logo on Wednesday. This logo will be used on new road and alternate hats starting in 2016...Francisco Diaz' 13-game hit streak is the longest in his pro career...The playoff berth for West Virginia is its fourth in franchise history and second as an affiliate of the Pirates (2013)...West Virginia drew 160,429 fans over the course of the 2015 season, the highest since the 2011 campaign...With the Power victory and a Crawdads loss, West Virginia are guaranteed the best record in the Northern Division.
AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Aramis Ramirez tallied four RBIs but the Pirates were trumped again by the Brewers 9-4...Indianapolis trailed Columbus 3-0 after the first and fell 4-2...Altoona was shutout by Bowie 4-0 and their magic number remains at three...Bradenton was idle on Wednesday...The Black Bears won in walkoff fashion 6-5.
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.
• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...
South Atlantic League Stories from September 3, 2015
- Crawdads Breakout in 9-4 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- 'Jackets Sting RiverDogs 7-2 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds' Winning Streak Snapped in Lakewood - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Hagerstown Takes Series Opener 5-2 - Lexington Legends
- Bats Come Alive in GreenJackets Victory - Augusta GreenJackets
- Drive Walk off on Benintendi's Blast, 6-5 - Greenville Drive
- Robbins Drives in Career-High 4 in Comeback Win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Kannapolis Tops Power 10-6 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- WV Power Game Notes: September 3, 2015 at Kannapolis - Charleston Dirty Birds
- 'Dads Black Jersey Auction Ends Sunday - Hickory Crawdads
- Tafrow Named BlueClaws General Manager - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Drive Playoff Tickets Now on Sale - Greenville Drive
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