SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Game Notes (April 6)

Published on April 6, 2019 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


The Power continues its four-game series with the Drive tonight at Fluor Field at the West End, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. from Greenville. RHP Ryne Inman makes his first start of the season.

-------------------------------------

HONEYMAN HOMERS IN WALK-OFF LOSS: Bobby Honeyman blasted the first home run of the season for West Virginia, a two-run shot in the second to right-center field, but the Power would not be able to hold on to their 2-0 lead. Greenville responded with two unearned runs in the fifth and another in the ninth to walk it off, 3-2, Friday evening at Fluor Field at the West End. Honeyman took Drive starter Thaddeus Ward deep, but that was all he would cede over five innings of work, which Power hurler Clay Chandler matched, surrendering just three hits and fanning a pair. Greenville got to Chandler in the fifth, though, as Brandon Howlett managed to reach second on a pair of throwing errors by Joseph Rosa and Jake Anchia to start the inning. Tyler Esplin then smoked a double off the Green Monster that pushed Howlett to third, with both runners coming in to score soon after on a groundout by Kervin Suarez and a sacrifice fly from Grant Williams. An error would be the undoing of West Virginia in the ninth too, as a botched double play at second base left the bases loaded with one out for Williams, who drove one deep into the hole at second that scored Triston Casas, who worked a leadoff walk against Nolan Hoffman, allowing Greenville to steal the victory.

BOBBY BOMB!: Honeyman stroked his first home run of the season Friday night, a two-run blast traveling 375 feet just to the right of the video board at Fluor Field at the West End. The long ball was the fourth of the Stony Brook alumnus' career, and his first in full-season ball. This surge comes as no surprise to the New York native, who demolished the Northwest League last season en-route to a .346 clip (second-best in the league) and a Postseason All-Star nod.

A STINGY STAFF: For the second straight evening, the Power pitching staff did not surrender an earned run, as all three runs that crossed the plate Friday night came courtesy of miscues in the field. Through the team's first 18.2 innings in 2019, they have posted a 0.00 ERA, the lone team in Minor League Baseball to have a spotless earned run average through two games. Only five teams in MiLB have allowed less runs than the Power over their first two games:

- Jackson Generals - 2 runs - 0.44 ERA

- Lake County Captains - 1 run - 0.50 ERA

- Charleston RiverDogs - 2 runs - 0.50 ERA

- Bradenton Marauders - 2 runs - 1.00 ERA

- Lake Elsinore Storm - 2 runs - 1.00 ERA

A "POWER"FUL ROSTER: Once again, the West Virginia Power's Opening Day roster is burgeoning with some of the most talented prospects in their parent club's farm system. Four of the Mariners' top prospects begin the year in West Virginia, including three in the top 10. Here's how they fared Friday night:

- #2 Jarred Kelenic: 1-for-3, BB, SB (first South Atlantic League hit and stolen base); Made diving catch as well

- #4/#5 Julio Rodriguez: 1-for-4, 2K; upped his average to .375 (3-for-8) in two games with West Virginia

- #23/#29 Hoffman: 0.2 IP, 1H, 1R (unearned), 1BB, Loss, Full-Season debut

THAT'S SOME SWEET RELIEF: West Virginia's bullpen continued to flex its muscles Friday evening, as Ben Onyshko shined in his Power debut, hurling a career-high three scoreless innings and giving up just two hits while striking out three. Despite Hoffman being served with the loss, he only allowed one hit and would've gotten out of the inning if not for the error at second base on the aforementioned double play ball. Through their first 9.2 innings of the 2019 campaign, the Power pen has surrendered just five hits while striking out 10 batters compared to two walks.

404 ERROR MESSAGE: The Power committed three errors in last night's loss to the Drive, upping their season total to four through two games. West Virginia now possesses a .949 fielding percentage, fifth-worst in the league.

G-VILLE HISTORY: West Virginia holds a 17-19 all-time record inside Greenville's friendly confines. The club will make one more trip to Fluor Field in 2019, dialing up a four-game series from May 17-20, while the Drive comes to Appalachian Power Park for four games from June 6-9. The 12 head-to-head matchups between these two clubs this year will be the most they have ever played in a single season in series history.

POWER POINTS: West Virginia went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position last night, stranding eight men on base. They have started the season 1-for-15 with RISP, the second-lowest mark in the SAL (Columbia, 0-for-18 in 2G).

Check out the Charleston Dirty Birds Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from April 6, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central