SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Game Notes

Published on August 24, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


West Virginia Power (26-32, 61-65) at Greensboro Grasshoppers (26-29, 68-59)

Game 127 | August 24, 2011 | NewBridge Bank Park | Greensboro, NC

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

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

LH Eliecer Navarro (3-0, 2.70) vs. RH Zach Neal (7-6, 4.29)

Navarro: Allowed 2 R on 5 H with 4 K and 0 BB over 6.0 IP in 8/19 Win vs. DEL (8-2 Power)

Neal: Allowed 1 R on 3 H with 1 K and 1 BB over 3.0 IP in 8/18 ND @ LWD (6-2 BlueClaws)

POWER REPLAY: West Virginia beat Greensboro 10-9 on Tuesday night. The Power staked Jameson Taillon to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first and built a 7-1 lead after four thanks in part to a Drew Maggi three-run home run. The Hoppers battled back on the strength of three home runs, including two by Jacob Realmuto, and evened the score at seven after seven. Mel Rojas Jr. hit a pinch hit, three-run home run in the top of the ninth to give West Virginia enough for the win, despite a two-run bottom of the ninth charge by the Greensboro. Vince Payne was charged with a blown save but vultured the win. Jason Townsend pitched the bottom of the ninth for his 11th save.

POUNDERS ACTIVATED: Brooks Pounders was activated from West Virginia's disabled list earlier Tuesday and filled the void created as Pittsburgh placed Colton Cain on the Power DL. Pounders last appearance was on August 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 12-10 so far this month after only winning nine times in July.

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 56 wins over 92 games, including a 25-19 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 24 games and 98 at bats.

LEADING BASEBALL: West Virginia's pitching staff continues to lead all of baseball with the fewest number of batters walked this year, despite eight walks last night. Power pitchers have combined to walk 302 batters through 126 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 day trip to Greensboro, 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 58 home runs are the seventh fewest in any season since Charleston, WV teams joined the SAL in 1987... The 2011 Power team baseball card set will be given away this Saturday at Appalachian Power Park when West Virginia plays Lexington... Jameson Taillon has factors in five decisions during his 21 starts this season, and has more no decisions (16) than any other starting pitcher this season... Dan Grovatt is batting .369 this month, the fifth highest average by any SAL player this month. The All-Star also has 21 runs batted in this month, fifth most in the league.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh dropped an 11-4 final to Milwaukee at PNC Park... Indianapolis lost 7-6 to Lehigh Valley... Altoona split a doubleheader with Richmond, losing the first game 6-2 and winning the nightcap 4-3... Bradenton did not play... State College lost 4-2 to Jamestown.

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 24, 2011


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