Game Notes (July 29)
July 29, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
The Power concludes their four-game series with the Rome Braves Monday afternoon at State Mutual Stadium, with first pitch set for 1 p.m. RHP Evan Johnson (0-1, 2.70 ERA) takes the mound for West Virginia, while Rome sends southpaw Dilmer Mejia (5-2, 2.71 ERA) to the slab.
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SWEET FIRES COMPLETE GAME IN 6-1 WIN : Devin Sweet hurled the first-ever nine-inning complete game in Power history, and West Virginia scored four runs over the final three frames to cruise to a 6-1 win over the Rome Braves Sunday afternoon at State Mutual Stadium. The Power struck first in the third inning, as Matt Sanders stroked a one-out single and Julio Rodriguez blasted a two-run homer to give West Virginia a 2-0 lead. Meanwhile, Sweet dominated the Braves early on, retiring the first six men he faced. Jeremy Fernandez and Braulio Vasquez laced back-to-back singles to start the third, but Sweet buckled down to then set down the next 11 batters. Drew Campbell broke that up with a solo homer in the sixth that just got over the right-field fence to close the lead to 2-1, but the Power's offense responded in true form the next inning. Ryan Ramiz came through with an RBI double to plate Manny Pazos and extend West Virginia's lead to 3-1. Bobby Honeyman provided some insurance in the next frame, ripping a run-scoring double to right-center before coming home on a wild pitch later in the inning. Ramiz pushed the Power's final run across in the ninth with his second consecutive RBI double, and Sweet finished off his incredible effort with a strikeout of Griffin Benson.
COMPLETELY SWEET : Sweet worked his name into the Power record books for the second straight start, registering the first nine-inning complete game in Power history Sunday. Sweet's performance outlasted Brian Leach for the longest start in team history, who had previously hurled 8.2 innings in 2009. The right-hander is the third West Virginia starter to pitch into the ninth inning this year, joining Clay Chandler and Steven Moyers, who each tossed 8.1 innings in their longest outings with the Power. Sweet is the 14th pitcher in the South Atlantic League to twirl a complete game this season (third of the nine-inning variety), and the third member of West Virginia's staff (Chandler and Ryne Inman, both seven innings). Since converting to a starter June 16, he is 3-2 with a 2.41 ERA, the fifth-best qualified ERA in the SAL in that span, along with 62 strikeouts in 56 innings of work. He now has the lowest qualified ERA (3.04) on the Power.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE Ks : In the midst of his complete game gem, Sweet struck out a career-best 12 batters over his 104 pitches (80 for strikes). His 12-strikeout performance is the most by any West Virginia pitcher this year, as well as their fifth double-digit strikeout game, and the second for Sweet (July 6 at Lexington, 10 strikeouts). Only one other Power pitcher in team history has fanned more batters in a start, when Tyler Glasnow struck out 13 men on August 22, 2013, over five hitless innings against the Charleston RiverDogs.
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 22 of his 23 games in that stretch, tied for the second-most games played by any slugger in the league (Terrin Vavra, 24, Asheville). In this span, Honeyman is averaging .364 (36-for-99), the fifth-highest mark in the league, with two homers, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored and just 10 strikeouts. The Stony Brook product put together his 25th multi-hit game of the season Sunday afternoon, the most on the team.
THE SLUMP BUSTER : Before hitting the road for Hickory, Jake Anchia was mired in a 2-for-31 slump with 18 strikeouts and just one RBI going back to July 7. However, the Power backstop seems to have found his groove away from Appalachian Power Park, going 4-for-16 with five RBI and two runs scored across his five games this trip.
THE LONG BALL : Julio's bomb in the third inning marked West Virginia's 88th home run of the season, third-most in the South Atlantic League (Greensboro, 106 and Hickory, 121). The Power has hit 40 of their 88 homers away from Appalachian Power Park, the fifth-highest away long ball total in the league (Hickory, 46).
WELCOME BACK BRYAN! : Prior to Sunday's game, the Seattle Mariners announced the RHP Bryan Pall had been activated off the injured list. Pall rejoined the Power's bullpen after missing 12 games, during which the team went 5-7 and the staff posted a 4.15 ERA. Before Pall was sidelined, he was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and six saves in 23 games in his first active professional season after missing two years due to Tommy John surgery. RHP J.T. Salter was promoted back to High-A Modesto after not making an appearance during his three days with West Virginia.
POWER POINTS : Charlie McConnell has not committed an error in 54 consecutive games (May 15 at Charleston)... Onil Pena has three hits in his last 31 at-bats with 19 strikeouts, though he did stroke his first triple of the season Saturday (eighth of his Minor League career)... Ramiz posted his 21st multi-hit game of the season... The Power did not walk a batter in a game for the 14th time this year... West Virginia went 2-for-8 with RISP, stranding seven men.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 29, 2019
- Corry Continues to Dominate, Jackets Beat Lexington 9-1 - Augusta GreenJackets
- 'Dogs Withstand 'Birds, Salvage Split - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Power Take Finale 4-3 over Braves in 10 Innings - Rome Emperors
- Heeeeeeerrrrre's Jhony, Brito Solid as RiverDogs Use Big Third to Finish Road Trip on a High Note - Charleston RiverDogs
- Legends Spoil No Hit Bid in Series Finale - Lexington Legends
- Parra Leads Tourists to Big Win in Hickory - Asheville Tourists
- Novoa Homers But 'Dads Fall - Hickory Crawdads
- Suns Sweep Fireflies in Four Games - Hagerstown Suns
- Columbia Closes out Homestand, Granadillo Records First Hit as Firefly - Columbia Fireflies
- Power to Host African American Heritage Night August 5 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Bullpen Propels Power to Series Finale Win in Extras - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Bush and Schmidt Named Back-To-Back Pitchers of the Week - Asheville Tourists
- Hagerstown Suns: Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Pelletier Saves Games, Then Wins It - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- RiverDogs Go Nuts, Drop Helicopters Worth of Fun in Upcoming Homestand - Charleston RiverDogs
- Game Notes (July 29) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Devin Sweet Provides Sour Afternoon for Rome - Rome Emperors
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