SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Game Notes

July 7, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


West Virginia Power (4-9, 35-48) at Hagerstown Suns (5-8, 41-42)

Game 84 | July 7, 2010 | Municipal Stadium | Hagerstown, MD

Radio: Power Baseball Network and wvpower.com

TODAY'S MATCHUP

RH Phillip Irwin (3-1, 2.64) vs. LH Josh Smoker (1-8, 7.18)

Irwin- Allowed 0 R on 4 H with 1 BB and 7 K over 7.0 IP in 7/02 Win vs. DEL 5-1 WVP)

Smoker- Allowed 5 R on 6 H with 4 BB and 3 K over 4.0 IP in 7/02 ND @ LWD (8-7 BlueClaws)

TUESDAY: The Power beat the Suns 7-3 Tuesday evening. Nathan Baker pitched eight no-hit innings and earned his sixth win of the season. West Virginia's offensive attack produced a three run sixth, a run in the seventh, and an additional three runs in the eighth. Gabriel Alvarado pitched the ninth for the Power, allowing a base hit with one out before surrendering three runs in the frame. Ramon Cabrera paced the offense with three hits and two runs batted in.

BAKER SHAKED 'EM: Nathan Baker's eight inning start yesterday was the longest appearance by any Power pitcher this season. West Virginia starting pitchers had gone seven full innings seven different times this season, including twice by Baker himself. The All-Star has pitched six innings or more in six of his 15 games in 2010 and each has been a quality start.

ROAD WARRIOR HALTED: David Rubinstein had his road on-base streak snapped at 29 consecutive games, which had started on April 25 at Kannapolis. The streak is the longest road on-base streak in the league so far this season. The Power All-Star went 0-5 on Tuesday as the streak saw its conclusion.

SUNS DIDN'T SETTLE: Hagerstown has taken seven of the eleven meetings between the Power and Suns this season. During the recent four game series at Appalachian Power Park, the Suns amassed 70 hits in four games, and hold a season average of .345 over eight games against West Virginia. Comparatively speaking, the Power are batting .273 against Suns pitching. Hagerstown has only outscored 82-67 despite hitting nearly 70 points higher. The Suns have added 34 hits and 23 runs to those totals this series.

WALK OF LIFE: Evan Chambers has walked 64 times this year to lead the South Atlantic League. Chambers ranks third across all of Minor League Baseball, trailing only Kila Ki'aihue of Omaha (74) and Conner Crumbliss of Kane County (70). Chambers on-base percentage from the leadoff spot is .410, while his overall OBP is .398, fourth best in the league.

WELCOME BACK: Pittsburgh promoted Brett Lorin to the Power roster earlier today to fill the vacant spot. Lorin was acquired by the Pirates last July in the deal that sent Jack Wilson and Ian Snell to the Seattle Mariners. The right-hander spent the final few weeks of the 2009 season with the Power, going 3-1 with a 1.57 earned run average. He began this season with the GCL Pirates, going 0-0 with a 1.29 ERA.

POWER POINTS: Rogelio Noris has the fifth best home run to at bat ratio in the SAL with one home run ever 21 at bats. Justin Bass of Greensboro leads the league in long balls and has the best ratio (1/14.53 AB)... Phillip Irwin has struck out 41 and walked just eight over 36.2 innings pitched as a starter...

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh lost the series opener at Houston 6-2... Indianapolis staved off Louisville 9-7... Altoona dropped an 11-6 final against Binghamton... Bradenton beat Palm Beach 9-0 in a rain-shortened, seven inning game... State College slipped past Hudson Valley 5-4 in ten innings.

ON THE AIR: All 140 West Virginia Power games can be heard on ESPN Radio 1490 AM in Charleston, WV, across the state on the Power Radio Network, and online at milb.com. Adam Marco will call the action for each of the 70 home games this season, while the home team will provide coverage while the Power are on the road.

Check out the Charleston Dirty Birds Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from July 7, 2010


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