SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Game Notes (April 28)

Published on April 28, 2019 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


The Power goes for their third straight home series sweep, as well as its first perfect multi-series homestand since August 2017, in the series finale today against the Asheville Tourists. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m. from Appalachian Power Park. RHP Ryne Inman (3-0, 2.21 ERA) toes the rubber for West Virginia.

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CHANDLER, KELENIC HEADLINE 5-1 WIN: Clay Chandler spun seven scoreless innings on his 25th birthday, while Jarred Kelenic went deep twice to guide the Power to a 5-1 win over the Asheville Tourists Saturday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park, securing their fourth series win of the season. West Virginia took the game over in the third, posting a four-run frame. Connor Hoover looped an RBI double to the wall for his first South Atlantic League hit, Nick Rodriguez added a sacrifice fly and Kelenic went yard to right-center 410 feet for a 4-0 cushion. Chandler cruised from the get-go, scattering six hits while striking out five and not walking a batter. Kelenic added the exclamation point in the seventh with his second home run of the game, a solo shot down the right field line, to make it 5-0. Ben Onyshko tossed a scoreless eighth, while Bryan Pall had some issues in the ninth, walking in a run and leaving the bases loaded with two down and the tying run at the plate. However, Nolan Hoffman relieved him and slammed the door by inducing a weak ground out from Kyle Datres to pick up his third save of the season in as many opportunities.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CLAY: Chandler was brilliant on his 25th birthday, tying his career-high with seven scoreless innings while not walking a batter in a start for the third time this season. The Paducah, Kentucky, native has not allowed a run over his last 18 innings, dating back to April 16, giving up just 10 hits while striking out 18 and picking up three straight winning decisions, a career-best. The right-hander leads the South Atlantic League with a miniscule 0.31 ERA.

STRONG STAFF: West Virginia's starting rotation has turned in a series of solid performances over the first six games of this homestand. Over their 34 innings of work, the Power's starting staff has allowed just three runs on 15 hits and five walks while recording 41 strikeouts, good enough for a 0.79 ERA. Here's how each of them have fared:

Monday, April 22: Chandler: 5 IP, 2H, 10K (career-high), 0BB/Saturday: April 27: 7 IP, 6H, 5K, (18IP scoreless streak)

Tuesday, April 23: Ryne Inman: 5.1 IP, 0H, 10K (career-high), 2BB

Wednesday, April 24: Damon Casetta-Stubbs: 5 IP (career-high), 0H, 4K, 0BB, 55 pitches (Power debut)

Thursday, April 25: Steven Moyers: 6 IP, 3H, 4K, 1BB, second quality start of the season

Friday, April 26: Logan Gilbert: 5.2 IP, 4H, 3R, 8K, 2BB

A HANDFUL OF #LEFTTURNS: Kelenic's pair of home runs yesterday upped his season total to five (including the one he hit in the Power's suspended game against Asheville April 20 in game two of a twin bill that has yet to be recorded). With those five dingers, the Waukesha, Wisconsin, native is tied with Curtis Terry (Hickory) for the fourth-most bombs in the league. He also recorded his first two-home run game of his MiLB career. Kelenic and Dean Nevarez, who went deep twice Friday, are the first pair of Power batters to record separate multi-homer games on consecutive days in team history (2005-present). The Mariners' second-best prospect is also the first batter to homer on consecutive days since Rodolfo Castro went deep August 18 and 19, 2018, against the Charleston RiverDogs. Kelenic currently possesses the league's longest hitting streak at 14 games (dating back to April 11), during which he is 26-for-57 (.456) with five home runs, seven doubles and 16 RBI. He has also reached base safely in his last 15 games (dating back to April 10).

BREAK OUT THE BROOMS: With a win today, West Virginia would notch its third series sweep of the season, as well as their third consecutive at home (Lakewood, April 15-17 and Columbia, April 22-24). The Power would also complete their first four-game brooming since they derailed Hagerstown August 27-30, 2018, at Appalachian Power Park. West Virginia could also claim its first-ever series sweep of the Asheville Tourists in team history.

LOVE SOME HOME COOKING: West Virginia has now won 10 consecutive games at home, including back-to-back three-game sweeps against Lakewood and Columbia. The Power has not won more than nine consecutive games at home since they ripped off a 13-game home winning streak from July 17-August 15, 2017, defeating Greensboro in the series finale before sweeping Lexington and Delmarva in a pair of four-game sets, as well as Lakewood in a three-game series, and claiming the series opener against the Legends August 15. The Power is also in the midst of a six-game winning streak, their longest of the season. The last time they won more than six games was their seven-gamer at the tail end of 2018 (August 24-30). West Virginia is off to its hottest start at home in team history, winning 11 of their first 12 games in Charleston, and could record their first perfect multi-series homestand since August 3-9, 2017.

POWER POINTS: With a 15-6 record through 21 games, West Virginia is off to its second-best start in team history through that many contests (17-4 in 2007)... Hoffman is tied for the fourth-most saves (3) in the South Atlantic League.

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