SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Game Notes

Published on August 26, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Lexington Legends (19-39, 54-74) at West Virginia Power (26-34, 61-67)

Game 129 | August 26, 2011 | Appalachian Power Park | Charleston, WV

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

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-10, 4.69) vs. LH Zack Dodson (5-4, 2.50)

Foltynewicz: Surrendered 8 R on 8 H with 0 K and 1 BB over 2.1 IP in 8/16 Loss @ HAG (10-2 Suns)

Dodson: Surrendered 5 R on 8 H with 2 K and 0 BB over 5.0 IP in 8/21 Loss vs. DEL (6-5 Shorebirds)

POWER REPLAY: West Virginia fell in 19 innings on Thursday night, dropping a 5-4 finale at Greensboro. The Power held a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but Christian Yelich hit a two-run home run off Zac Fuesser to even the score. Each team plated two runs in the 14th, but the Hopper struck for the winning run in the bottom of the 19th with one out against Kevin Mort, who started the game at second base, but pitched the final five and a third while taking the loss.

POWER V LEGENDS: West Virginia has played Lexington more than any other team dating back to the 2005 season. The Power lead the all-time series 69-63, but the Legends have a winning record at Appalachian Power Park with 33 wins in 63 games. West Virginia leads this series thanks to their prowess at Whitiker Bank Ballpark in Lexington, going 39-30 since 2005.

BONUS BASEBALL: The Power are now 5-7 when playing extra innings this season after Thursday's 19 inning loss. The club did not go to extra frames until May 23 against Lakewood, the 43rd game of the season, but has since done it 11 other times over the last 85 games.

HOME FOR FIVE: The Power open their final homestand of the season tonight against Lexington. West Virginia is 31-31 at home this season after having gone 34-35 at Appalachian Power Park last season and 33-34 in 2009. The last road trip of the year sends West Virginia to Delmarva over Labor Day weekend and starts on September 1.

GROVATT CONTINUES HOT HITTING: Dan Grovatt has a seven-game hitting streak heading into his next game with 12 hits over 32 at bats since August 19. The SAL All-Star has reached safely by base hit in 21 of the 24 games he has played this month, and has raised his average from .272 to .290 since the end of July.

DOWN THE STRETCH WE GO: West Virginia has 10 games remaining this season. The Power are four wins under the club's total from the 2010 season and six under the 2009 tally from the first year as a Pirates affiliate. The 2010 version went 65-74, batted .274, and held a staff ERA of 4.39, while the 2009 edition was 67-70 with a .262 team average and a 4.18 ERA. The 2011 Power are batting .251 with a 4.01 ERA.

STILL ONE AWAY: 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 Tuesday night. Power pitchers have combined to walk 310 batters through 128 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.

POWER POINTS: West Virginia's 58 home runs are the seventh fewest in any season since Charleston, WV teams joined the SAL in 1987... Jameson Taillon has factored in five decisions during his 21 starts this season, and has more no decisions (16) than any other starting pitcher this season... The 2011 Power team baseball card set will be given away this Saturday at Appalachian Power Park to the first 1000 fans.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh was doubled up 8-4 by St. Louis... Indianapolis beat Columbus 3-2 in walk-off fashion... Altoona knocked off Binghamton 5-4... Bradenton beat Palm Beach 4-1 Palm Beach... State College lost 11-4 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.

Check out the Charleston Dirty Birds Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from August 26, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central