Mitchell Homers in 10-3 Loss to Greensboro
June 1, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Calvin Mitchell collected his seventh home run of the year, but the Power were unable to overcome five Greensboro homers as they fell, 10-3, to the Grasshoppers on Friday evening at First National Bank Field.
Mitchell started the ninth with his opposite-field homer against Greensboro (25-27) reliever Manuel Rodriguez, closing the gap to 10-2. The Pirates' 15th-best prospect per MLB.com is tied with Oneil Cruz for the team lead with seven home runs. Ryan Peurifoy added an RBI single later in the frame, but it was too little too late for West Virginia (25-24).
The Power got to Grasshoppers starter Trevor Rogers in the opening inning, as Cruz led off with a single to left. After moving to second on a ground out from Rodolfo Castro, he scored on a slow roller from Deon Stafford that just snuck by Greensboro's shortstop, Jose Devers, to give West Virginia a 1-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Power starter Gavin Wallace stymied the Grasshoppers through three innings, allowing just one hit and inducing five ground ball outs. The right-hander used 45 pitches to get through three frames, throwing 29 of them for strikes.
After an hour delay due to a heavy rain storm that halted the game in the fourth, Evan Piechota (2-2) replaced Wallace in the bottom of the fourth inning. Piechota quickly recorded two outs in the frame, but then gave up back-to-back singles to Lazaro Alonso and Marcos Rivera before Micah Brown clubbed a three-run homer to left that put Greensboro up 3-1. In the fifth, the Grasshoppers replicated their output on Cameron Baranek's three-run blast, pushing their lead to 6-1.
Greensboro tacked on two more against Piechota in the sixth, as Rivera homered to begin the frame before Sam Castro stroked an RBI double that brought in Will Allen to make it 8-1.
Joel Cesar tossed a scoreless seventh in his first appearance since returning from the disabled list on May 30, striking out a pair on 10 pitches. However, Matt Seelinger did not fare as well, as the right-hander served up back-to-back homers to Rivera and Brown in the eighth to give them a 10-1 lead.
Dustin Beggs (2-0) earned the win for the Grasshoppers after hurling three scoreless frames and fanning five batters, while ceding just a pair of hits over 37 pitches.
West Virginia continues its three-game series with Greensboro Saturday evening, with first pitch set for 7 p.m. from First National Bank Field. RHP Cody Bolton (1-0, 0.00 ERA) heads to the hill for the Power, while the Grasshoppers counter with RHP Taylor Braley (2-4, 4.50 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:40 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at www.wvpower.com and via the TuneIn Radio App and MiLB First Pitch App.
Following their six-game road swing, the Power return home to face Lexington in a three-game set at Appalachian Power Park from June 5-7. West Virginia's first June homestand includes a Rock 105 Two for Tuesday and Thirsty Thursday, as well as a Pets in the Park Night. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit wvpower.com.
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