SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Game Notes

Published on August 1, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Greensboro Grasshoppers (17-19, 57-49) at West Virginia Power (14-22, 49-55)

Game 105 | August 1, 2011 | Appalachian Power Park | Charleston, WV

Radio: Power Baseball Network and wvpower.com Airtime: 6:45 pm

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

RH Brett Zawacki (0-0, 9.00) vs. RH Jameson Taillon (2-2, 6.65)

Zawacki: Allowed 1 R on 1 H with 0 K and 0 BB over 1.0 relief IP in 7/28 GBO Win (SAL Debut)

Taillon: Allowed 2 R on 4 H with 7 K and 1 BB over 4.0 IP in 7/26 ND @ CSC (6-4 WVP)

POWER REPLAY: West Virginia lost 6-1 in the series finale against Lakewood on Sunday. Elias Diaz staked Zack Von Rosenberg to a 1-0 lead with a second inning home run, but the BlueClaws tied it in the third and took the lead for good in the fifth. Von Rosenberg took the loss as West Virginia and Lakewood would end up splitting the four game set.

CALLED BACK UP: Cole White was promoted to the Bradenton Marauders after Sunday's game against Lakewood. White began the year in Florida, but was transferred to West Virginia in late May when Matt Curry jumped to Altoona. White played first, left, and served as the Power's DH during his stint with the Power, batting .288 with five home runs and 23 runs batted in over 35 games.

WELCOME BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME: Justin Bencsko was promoted to West Virginia on Sunday to fill the roster spot opened by Cole White promotion. Bencsko began the season on the Power roster, albeit on the disabled list, and never appeared in a game for West Virginia. On June 13, the outfielder was transferred to State College and hit .271 over 27 games with two home runs and six runs batted in for the Spikes. Bencsko's first game for the Power will mark his SAL debut.

GOODBYE JULY: The Power finished July with a 9-19 record, matching April for their fewest wins in any month this season. The .321 winning percentage was the third lowest for any month since West Virginia became a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate in 2009 (April 2009 .286 and June 2010 .308). The club hit .242 during the last 31 days, and held a staff earned run average of 5.56, nearly three runs high than the Power's June ERA.

HERE COME THE HOP STEPPERS: West Virginia and Greensboro continue their rivalry tonight at Appalachian Power Park. The Power and Grasshoppers will have met 19 times by the end of the season, with 11 of the games to be played in Charleston. West Virginia holds the all-time edge in the series with 52 wins over 86 games, including a 27-16 at Appalachian Power Park.

TRADED: The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded Aaron Baker, West Virginia's 2010 All-Star first baseman, to the Baltimore Orioles for first baseman Derrick Lee. Baker batted .253 for the Power last season with a team high 18 home runs and 79 run batted in. This season, he was hitting .282 with 15 home runs and 72 batted home for the Bradenton Marauders. Lee should be in uniform today for the Pirates in Philadelphia. The two-time MLB All-Star was batting .248 for Baltimore with 12 home runs.

LONG TIME COMING: Andy Vasquez's first inning home run Friday was his first since May 14 against Kannapolis. The utility player went 210 at bats over 56 games between home runs, but did manage to hit six of his league-best ten triples.

VERGE OF HISTORY: Rogelio Noris has 24 career home runs for West Virginia over a season and a half in a Power jersey. Noris has matched Stephen Chapman for the most home runs in any player's Power career. Chapman hit a single-season record 24 home runs in a Power uniform in 2007.

POWER POINTS: Rogelio Noris's eight-game hitting streak was snapped Saturday night with an 0-4 performance, while Drew Maggi had his six-game hitting streak stopped yesterday... Zack Dodson was activated from the Power Disabled List on Thursday and was transferred to the State College Spikes roster...

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh lost 6-5 at Philadelphia in 10 innings and opens a four-game set against the Cubs tonight... Indianapolis lost 11-5 to Gwinett... Altoona lost 8-5 at Portland... Bradenton beat Brevard County 6-1... State College doubled up Lowell 4-2.

ON THE AIR: All 140 West Virginia Power games can be heard on ESPN 104.5 FM and 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.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 1, 2011


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