Power Game Notes
June 21, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
Lexington Legends (0-0, 39-30) at West Virginia Power (0-0, 23-47)
Game 71 | June 21, 2012 | Appalachian Power Park | Charleston, WV
Radio: ESPN Radio 104.5 FM & 1490 and wvpower.com Air Time- 6:45 pm
TONIGHT'S MATCHUP
LH Luis Cruz (5-3, 3.49) vs. LH Zack Dodson (1-5, 6.12)
Cruz: Allowed 2 R on 7 H with 5 K and 1 BB over 8.0 IP in 6/15 ND vs. ASH (5-3 Tourists)
Dodson: Surrendered 7 R on 8 H with 0 K and 2 BB over 4.1 IP in 6/13 Loss @ LEX (9-2 Legends)
POWER REPLAY: West Virginia finished the first half of the season with a win on Sunday against Hagerstown by a 5-3 final. The Power took a 3-0 lead in the fourth off Alex Meyer, but the Suns rallied to tie the game in the seventh. In the home half of the inning, Eric Avila doubled and scored on an Alen Hanson triple. Hanson the came home in a single by Taylor Lewis. Zac Fuesser was charged with a blown save, but notched his first win of the season. Rinku Singh earned his first SAL save as the Power won their second straight and split the four game series with the Suns.
THREE STARS IN CHARLESTON, SC: All three Power representatives selected for the 2012 SAL All-Star game saw time on the field Tuesday. Alen Hanson started at second base, played the entire game, and went 0-4 at the plate. Gregory Polanco started in right field and was 0-2 prior to being lifted. Matt Benedict pitched a perfect third inning, but did not factor in the decision. Delmarva's Nicky Delmonico was named the game's MVP after going 2-4 with a double and two runs scored as the North won 3-2.
FIRST HALF RECAP: West Virginia finished the first half of the season with a 23-47 record, which was the lowest winning percentage (.329) in any half since the team became known as the Power in 2005. The club finished the first half with a .257 average (third best mark after the first 70 games) and a 5.28 ERA (highest ever after the first half). West Virginia went 16-18 at home and 7-29 away from Appalachian Power Park (fewest road wins by any team in the league in any half since 2005).
BENEDICT TO BRADENTON: On Wednesday, Pittsburgh promoted Matt Benedict to the Bradenton Marauders roster. The 2012 SAL All-Star was 4-4 with a team-best 3.42 ERA and was third with 44 strikeouts. The right-hander was also among the league leaders in innings pitched at the time of his promotion with 76.1 innings this year.
FREEMAN RETIRES: Wes Freeman has been placed on the Voluntary Retired List by Pittsburgh. The outfielder was transferred to West Virginia from Bradenton on Thursday and played in one game for the Power this season. Freeman was drafted by Pittsburgh as a high school prospect in 2008 and played in 200 games in his Minor League career with a .213 average, 12 home runs, and 65 runs batted in.
POWER V. LEGENDS: The Power lead the all-time series 75-71. West Virginia holds a 41-34 mark at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, but have only gone 34-37 at home against the Legends since Appalachian Power Park opened in 2005.
PROMO UPDATE- JULY 4: West Virginia's next BIG 12 promotional night is July 4 at 7:05 pm against Lakewood. The team will host appearances by Dora the Explorer, Spongebob Squarepants, and Foofa from Yo Gabba Gabba. The evening will end with a post game fireworks show.
POWER POINTS: Francisco Aponte was promoted back to West Virginia on Wednesday from State College. Aponte hit .143 with State College over two games and is batting .244 with the Power this season over 15 games... Unless an additional player is added prior to tonight's game, West Virginia will be one man under the roster limit of 25 for tonight's game against Lexington... It was announced on Wednesday that Lakewood will host the next All-Star game on June 18, 2103 at FirstEnergy Park.
AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh lost 2-1 against Minnesota at PNC Park... Indianapolis pounded Gwinnett 10-2... Altoona knocked off New Britain 9-4. Gerrit Cole pitched five innings in his Double-A debut for the win... Bradenton lost 6-2 to St. Lucie. Casey Sadler pitched six scoreless innings, but the Marauders allowed five in the top of the ninth in the loss.
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.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 21, 2012
- Intimidators Sneak Past Shorebirds 6-5 in 11 Innings - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Drive Notch 12-6 Come-From-Behind Win - Greenville Drive
- Jackets Down Gnats in Wild 9-8 Game Thursday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- 'Dads take down 'Hoppers, 6-3, to open 2nd Half - Hickory Crawdads
- Late Greenville Rally Buries RiverDogs - Charleston RiverDogs
- West Virginia Overcomes Early Deficit, Beats Legends 9-4 - Lexington Legends
- Pangilinan's GW Single Beats 'Birds in 11th - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power bests Lexington Legends 9-4 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- GreenJackets pick up 9-8 win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Braves Use Hot Start to Cool Tourists; 7-3 - Asheville Tourists
- Suns Squeezed by Blue Claws 5-3 - Hagerstown Suns
- BlueClaws Begin 2nd Half with Bang, Win 5-3 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Former GreenJackets to Play in Futures Game - Augusta GreenJackets
- Suns' Meyer to Represent U.S. in MLB Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game - Hagerstown Suns
- Former Shorebirds to Play in Futures Game - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Savannah Makes Roster Moves - Savannah Sand Gnats
- LHP Walters Promoted to Winston-Salem - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Shorebirds Game Notes: at Kannapolis - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Taillon Selected for All-Star Futures Game - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Melissa Azevedo Named Finalist for Local Influential Women in Business Award - Charleston RiverDogs
- Rockies Promote Cleary Jr., Send Laruent to Asheville - Asheville Tourists
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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