Game Notes (May 12)
May 12, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
The Power continues its three-game series with the Kannapolis Intimidators Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park, with first pitch set for 2:05 p.m. LHP Steven Moyers (2-2, 4.63 ERA) toes the rubber for West Virginia.
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POWER DROPS SLUGFEST 10-7 IN OPENER: Jake Anchia hit his third home run of the homestand, but West Virginia was outslugged by the Kannapolis Intimidators, 10-7, in the series opener Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park. Kannapolis jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against Damon Casetta-Stubbs, with Alex Destino lofting a two-run homer to punctuate the first inning. The Power fought back with a big five-run third, as J.R. Davis continued his hot start with West Virginia, driving in a pair with a two-run single to kick-start the scoring. After Ryan Ramiz worked a walk, Anchia blasted a three-run bomb over the left-field fence 375 feet at 102 MPH off the bat to vault the Power in front 5-3. West Virginia added two more in the fourth, as Joseph Rosa brought in a pair on a ball that just slipped under Ramon Beltre's glove at second base, pushing the lead to 7-3. However, the Intimidators tied it at seven with four runs in the fifth and took the lead for good in the seventh on Bryce Bush's two-out homer off Sal Biasi. Kannapolis tacked on a run in the eighth and ninth to put it away. Devin Sweet tossed the final two frames, allowing two runs on four hits.
ALMIGHTY ANCHIA: Anchia has had quite the homestand against the Augusta GreenJackets and Kannapolis, averaging .500 (8-for-16) in his four games with three homers and eight RBI. The backstop recorded his first career multi-home run game in Thursday's twin bill opener, becoming the third Power batter to do so this season (Dean Nevarez, April 26 vs. Asheville and Jarred Kelenic, April 27 vs. Asheville). Anchia was also the first to homer in back-to-back at-bats since Trae Arbet on April 12, 2017, vs. Asheville. The Nova Southeastern product collected a career-best five RBI Thursday as well, the first West Virginia slugger to accomplish that feat since Deon Stafford notched a six-RBI evening August 11, 2018, at Rome. Anchia posted his sixth multi-hit game and second multi-RBI contest Saturday night.
PILING UP THE STRIKEOUTS: West Virginia's pitching staff compiled 10 strikeouts last night, fanning double-digit batters for the 18th time this year. Their season-high in strikeouts is 19, which they have accomplished twice (April 6 at Greenville and April 15 vs. Lakewood). The Power's 345 total strikeouts are fifth-most in the South Atlantic League.
THE BIG INNING: With their five-run third inning Saturday, West Virginia recorded its fourth big inning of the season, and second of the homestand. The Power's five runs are the most they have scored in the third inning this season. The most runs West Virginia has tallied in an inning this year is six, which they accomplished April 18 at Asheville in the sixth.
HOT START: Davis continued his solid showing in his first homestand with the Power, notching a 1-for-5 day with two RBI and a run scored Saturday. Overall, he is 6-for-20 (.300) with a double, four RBI and four runs scored during this homestand. He collected his second multi-RBI game of the homestand last night. The Oklahoma State product was added to West Virginia's roster May 7 after playing in one game with Triple-A Tacoma.
HOME COOKING: Sunday starter Steven Moyers thoroughly enjoys pitching in the friendly confines of Appalachian Power Park. The southpaw has yet to give up a run in his first two starts at home, spanning 13 innings. Moyers held Augusta scoreless over seven innings on April 13 while punching out a career-high nine batters, and followed that up with a brilliant six-inning gem against Asheville April 25, surrendering just three hits. The University of Rhode Island product is 2-0 at home versus 0-2 on the road in four starts with a 7.36 ERA, though he has struck out nearly twice as many batters on the road (24 to 13). Moyers has not fared as well in day games, however, going 1-1 with a 5.50 ERA.
WALK THIS WAY: Kelenic, Ramiz and Rosa have all utilized their keen eyes at the plate this season to increase their productivity for West Virginia. Ramiz and Rosa have both worked 20 walks, tied for fifth-best in the South Atlantic League, while Kelenic's 19 free passes are tied for seventh-most. Kelenic's 19 base on balls have enabled him to reach base safely in 30 of his 33 games played, while Ramiz has climbed aboard in 23 of his 29 contests and Rosa in 27 of his 33.
WELCOME, JOHNNY!: Just prior to Friday's series finale with the GreenJackets, the Seattle Mariners announced that outfielder Johnny Slater had been transferred to the Power from Triple-A Tacoma. Cesar Trejo was transferred to Extended Spring Training as the corresponding move. Slater played in four games with the Rainiers in 2019, posting a .154 mark with one RBI and six strikeouts. The 2017 28th-round selection did not play all of last season due to a left Achilles Tendon injury. He spent the 2017 campaign mostly with the LumberKings after getting drafted out of Michigan.
POWER POINTS: West Virginia lost for the first time when scoring at least seven runs in a game (7-1)... Kannapolis posted the most hits the Power has allowed in a single game (15)... West Virginia went 2-for-8 with RISP, stranding seven.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 12, 2019
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- All Nine 'Dads Collect a Hit in Loss to RiverDogs - Hickory Crawdads
- Mother's Day Masterpiece: Jackets Score Four in the 9th to Beat Lexington - Augusta GreenJackets
- Rome Crushes Columbia 11-0 in Lopsided Mothers Day Win - Rome Emperors
- Greenville Falls to Asheville, 4-2, on Mother's Day - Greenville Drive
- Fireflies Drop Mother's Day Matinee to Rome - Columbia Fireflies
- Feltner Limits the Drive in Bounce-Back Win - Asheville Tourists
- Legends Drop Heartbreaker in Game Two - Lexington Legends
- Moyers Hurls Quality Start in 2-1 Loss to Kannapolis - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Fireflies Game Notes: May 12 vs. Rome Braves (Game 35) - Columbia Fireflies
- Ramirez Makes MLB Debut with Marlins in New York - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hartman, Woods join Single-A Rome - Rome Emperors
- 'Birds, Suns Washed out on Sunday - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Hagerstown Suns Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Game Notes (May 12) - Charleston Dirty Birds
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