Game Notes (August 4)
August 4, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
The Power continues their four-game series with the Rome Braves this afternoon at Appalachian Power Park, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. RHP Evan Johnson (0-1, 3.77 ERA) takes the hill for West Virginia, while Rome sends LHP Dilmer Mejia (5-2, 2.70 ERA) to the slab.
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SWEET DEALS, OFFENSE SHINES IN 7-2 WIN : Devin Sweet hurled his fourth consecutive quality start and West Virginia's offense provided him plenty of early run support in a 7-2 win over the Rome Braves in the series opener Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park. The Power wasted no time jumping on Odalvi Javier in the first inning, as the second batter of the game, Matt Sanders, blasted a solo homer down the left-field line for a 1-0 lead. Julio Rodriguez followed that up with a base hit and came around to score three batters later when Jake Anchia drilled a knock to center field. Sweet faced the minimum through three innings, striking out five, before he ran into trouble in the fourth, allowing a pair of homers to Justin Dean and Braden Shewmake that tied the game at two. West Virginia answered immediately, however, as the Power loaded the bases against Javier and Bobby Honeyman worked a bases-loaded free pass to bring in a run. Austin Shenton then delivered with a two-run single to give West Virginia a 5-2 lead. That was more than enough for Sweet, who silenced Rome over his final two frames and tallied a total of nine strikeouts. Logan Rinehart and Dayeison Arias took care of the last three stanzas, ceding just two hits, while the Power padded their lead with an insurance run in the sixth and eighth innings on two RBI singles from Honeyman.
HONEY BUNCHES OF HITS : Since the start of his season-long 18-game hitting streak July 3 (ended July 23), Honeyman has been one of the most consistent hitters in the South Atlantic League. He has reached base safely in 26 of his 27 games in that stretch, tied for the third-most games played by any slugger in the league (Terrin Vavra, 28, Asheville). In this span, Honeyman is averaging .384 (43-for-112), the second-highest mark in the league, with two homers, 18 RBI, 20 runs scored and just 12 strikeouts. The Stony Brook product is now in the midst of his fourth hitting streak of at least eight games or more this year, as well as West Virginia's ninth overall. Honeyman is boasting a .516 (16-for-31) clip during his streak with five RBI and six multi-hit games. He extended his team-leading multi-hit game total to 28 last night with a 2-for-3 evening and three RBI.
SHENTON STRONG : Shenton tallied his fourth straight night with either a multi-hit or multi-RBI performance Saturday, going 1-for-4 with two RBI, his sixth multi-RBI affair with West Virginia. The Mariners' fifth-round selection has now reached base safely in 15 of his 17 games with the Power, as well as 35 of his first 38 professional games. The newly-minted 29th-best prospect in the Mariners system per MLB.com is boasting a .315 average with six homers and 33 RBI between Short-Season Everett and West Virginia.
HOMER HAPPY : Sanders' bomb in the first inning marked West Virginia's 93rd home run of the season, third-most in the South Atlantic League (Greensboro, 109 and Hickory, 124). The Power has hit 52 of their 93 homers at Appalachian Power Park, the third-highest home long ball total in the league (Hickory, 76). The 2019 West Virginia squad now has the fifth-most homers a Power team has posted in team history, surpassing the 2017 group (92) last night. West Virginia's highest home run total since becoming the Power is a whopping 128 dingers in 2007.
RIP ROARING RAMIZ : Ryan Ramiz has been on a tear since July 4, when he launched a go-ahead grand slam in the 13th inning in Lexington to silence the Legends. Since that ballgame, the New Jersey native is averaging .333 (35-for-114), the eighth-best average in the SAL in that span, with three homers, 14 RBI and 17 runs scored, as well as hits in 21 of those 24 games. He posted his 11th multi-hit game during this stretch last night, as well as his 24th overall, second-most on the team to Honeyman.
QUALITY SWEETNESS : Sweet spun his fourth straight quality start Saturday, tossing at least six innings for the seventh time in his 10 career MiLB starts. Across this remarkable run, the Greensboro, N.C., native boasts a 2.25 ERA (28 IP/7 ER) with 36 strikeouts compared to three walks. Since converting to a starter June 16, he is 4-2 with a 2.47 ERA, the seventh-best qualified ERA in the SAL in that span, along with 71 strikeouts in 62 innings of work. He also has the lowest qualified ERA (3.04) on the Power and is tied with Ian McKinney (High-A Modesto) for the lowest qualified earned run average in the Mariners' system.
A BOLSTERED BULLPEN : West Virginia's bullpen has been outstanding since blowing a save in the series opener against Greensboro back on Wednesday. With Rinehart and Arias' three combined scoreless frames Saturday, the Power relief corps extended their streak of not allowing an earned run to 14 consecutive innings.
POWER POINT : Charlie McConnell has not committed an error in 58 consecutive games (May 15 at Charleston).
South Atlantic League Stories from August 4, 2019
- Charleston Rallies Late, Mateo Walks off Shorebirds - Charleston RiverDogs
- 'Dogs Rally in Ninth, Stun 'Birds in Tenth - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Two Wins Are Better Than One - Fireflies Take First Two in Series against Suns - Columbia Fireflies
- Fireflies Sweep Suns in Abbreviated Doubleheader - Hagerstown Suns
- Drive Fall to Greensboro on Sunday - Greenville Drive
- Onyshko Fans a Career-High Eight Batters in 7-2 Loss - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Eight-Run First Inning Puts T's Back in the Win Column - Asheville Tourists
- Eight-Run First Keys Tourists Sunday 13-6 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Game Notes (August 4) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes: August 4 at Hagerstown (Games 108 & 109) - Columbia Fireflies
- Lineup Stays Switched Off in 7-2 Loss to Power - Rome Emperors
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