SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Game Notes

Published on August 23, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


West Virginia Power (25-32, 60-65) at Greensboro Grasshoppers (26-28, 68-58)

Game 126 | August 23, 2011 | NewBridge Bank Park | Greensboro, NC

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

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

RH Jameson Taillon (2-3, 4.52) vs. RH Alex Caldera (1-1, 5.06)

Taillon: Allowed 1 R on 3 H with 3 K and 2 BB over 4.0 IP in 8/18 ND vs. DEL (3-2 Shorebirds)

Caldera: Allowed 4 R on 3 H with 6 K and 5 BB over 5.0 IP in 8/17 Loss vs. AUG (8-5 Jackets)

POWER REPLAY: West Virginia lost 4-3 at Greensboro in walk-off fashion on Monday night. The Power held a 1-0 lead after two innings when Justin Howard scored on a force out. Zack Von Rosenberg pitched five and two thirds innings, allowing three runs on six hits before getting lifted in the sixth. West Virginia trailed 3-1 into the top of the ninth, but plated two runs on a force play and a sac fly to even the score. In the bottom of the ninth, the Hoppers won the game with one out against Justin Ennis when Dan Black scored on an error by Howard.

POUNDERS ACTIVATED: Brooks Pounders was activated from West Virginia's disabled list earlier today and fills the void created as Pittsburgh placed Colton Cain on the Power DL. Pounders last appearance was on Agugust 12 against Charleston. The reliever came out of the bullpen, tossed one pitch, and left the game with shoulder tightness.

STELLER SOUTHPAWS: The Power have used four different left-handed starting pitchers this month with solid results. Zack Dodson, Zac Fuesser, Eliecer Navarro, and Porfirio Lopez have a combined August record of 7-3 with a 2.45 ERA. The four pitchers combined to allow 18 earned runs over 66 innings since August 1st. West Virginia is 11-10 so far this month after only winning nine times in July.

GROVATT STOPPED: Dan Grovatt's seven game hitting streak came to a close Thursday night with an 0-3 evening. Grovatt hit .444 during this recent stretch, his fourth different hitting streak of seven or more games this season. He and Mel Rojas Jr. have the longest hitting streaks by any Power player this season at ten game apiece. Grovatt, a SAL All-Star, is batting .367 this month.

HERE COME THE HOP STEPPERS: West Virginia and Greensboro continue their rivalry tonight at NewBridge Bank Park. The Power and Grasshoppers will have met 19 times by the end of the season, with 11 of the games played in Charleston. West Virginia holds the all-time edge in the series with 55 wins over 91 games, including a 24-19 record at Greensboro.

VERGE OF HISTORY: Rogelio Noris has 24 career home runs for West Virginia over nearly two seasons 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. Noris, however, has not hit a home run since July 15, a span of 23 games and 94 at bats.

LEADING BASEBALL: West Virginia's pitching staff continues to lead all of baseball with the fewest number of batters walked this year. Power pitchers have combined to walk 294 batters through 123 games. The lowest team total in club history is 346 during the 2010 season, while the league's record low over a 140 game season is 314 by Augusta in 2001. The staff is currently on pace to finish the season with 327 walks issued.

SEE-SAW SCHEDULE: The final few weeks of the 2011 season will see the Power bounce between home and road series. After this four-game set against Delmarva at Appalachian Power Park, West Virginia opens a four day trip to Greensboro starting August 22. The Power open their final homestand of the season; a five game run against Lexington beginning on August 26. The last excursion of the year sends West Virginia to Delmarva over Labor Day weekend.

POWER POINTS: West Virginia's 56 home runs are the seventh fewest in any season since Charleston, WV teams joined the SAL in 1987... Dan Grovatt drove in seven runs during the Delmarva series and has surpassed Justin Howard's 56 with 58 to lead the club.

ON THE AIR: All 140 West Virginia Power games can be heardon 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 23, 2011


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