SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Game Notes

Published on July 7, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Lakewood BlueClaws (9-8, 35-50) at West Virginia Power (8-8, 31-55)

Game 87 | July 7, 2012 | Appalachian Power Park | Charleston, WV

Radio: ESPN Radio 104.5 FM & 1490 and wvpower.com Air Time- 6:45 p.m.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

RH Ramon Oviedo (1-6, 9.17) vs. RH Robby Rowland (4-2, 3.12)

Oviedo: Surrendered 6 R on 7 H with 2 K and 4 BB over 4.1 IP in 7/02 ND vs. HAG (11-10 Claws)

Rowland: Allowed 3 R on 6 H with 4 K and 3 BB over 5.1 IP in 7/02 Loss @ DEL (4-2 Shorebirds)

POWER REPLAY: West Virginia rallied for a 4-3 win over Lakewood on Friday night. The Power took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Gregory Polanco and added a run on a sac fly by Elias Diaz in the fourth. The BlueClaws gained a 3-2 lead when Kelly Dugan took Zack Dodson deep in the fifth inning with two men on base. The Power put the tying run aboard in each of the next four innings, but could not capitalize until the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded and no one out, Diaz grounded out to the right side of the infield to tie the game at three. Two batters later, Alen Hanson's infield single drove in Chris Lashmet and gave West Virginia enough offense for the win. Joan Montero earned the victory and Nathan Kilcrease pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

UNO DOS DIAZ! Elias Diaz drove in two runs last night for hit first multi-RBI game this season. The Power catcher now has 14 runs batted in over 61 games after having driven in 45 over 90 2011 contests. Diaz drove in multiple runs in 13 different games while spending all of last season with the Power.

ROWLAND V. CLAWS: Robby Rowland will make his tenth start in a Power jersey when he toes the rubber tonight. The right-hander's appearance this evening will be his third start against Lakewood. Rowland is 2-0 against the BlueClaws this season with a 3.00 ERA.

QUALITY: Despite not factoring in the decision, Zack Dodson notched his sixth quality start this season on Friday night. Dodson is one of six players in the South Atlantic League that has started 17 games this year, but has nine no decisions this season. The Power are 8-9 in games that Dodson starts. Nick Kingham has also started 17 games for West Virginia this season.

NOT SO BLUE: West Virginia hosts Lakewood though Sunday. The Power still trail the all-time series 54-48, but have gone 7-3 this year against the BlueClaws. West Virginia has a 28-32 record at Appalachian Power Park with six home games left in the season set. The teams will also meet for a three games series in Lakewood, NJ, later this month.

ONE YEAR- BIG DIFFERENCE: In 2011, Power pitchers walked 337 batters over the 138 games. So far this season, West Virginia pitchers have walked 334 batters through 86 games (3.9 per game) and are on pace to issue 547 free passes. The league record is well out of reach at 883 (Charleston, SC in 1978).

BASES LOADED BOONDOGGLE: West Virginia is one of five teams in the South Atlantic League that does not have a grand slam to its' credit this season. On the flip side, Power pitchers have allowed five slams this year, the most by any team in the league. West Virginia pitchers have walked 14 batters with the bags full and hit five (most in the league in both categories).

PROMO CHECK- JULY 19: West Virginia will host a Legends Night on July 19. The game will feature an appearance by Reggy and a giveaway to the first 1.000 fans.

POWER POINTS: West Virginia has hit 61 home runs through 86 games this season. The 2011 club hit 63 over 138 games... Francisco Diaz's seventh inning home run on Wednesday was the first of his professional career... Wednesday's holiday crowd was 4,564, surpassing Opening Day (3,900) for the largest home attendance figure this year and the biggest at Appalachian Power Park since May 31, 2011 (5,570).

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh lost 6-5 to San Francisco. Andrew McCutchen went 3-5 in the loss... Indianapolis lost 10-6 at Columbus... Altoona knocked off Reading 11-5. Matt Curry had four hits and drove in four in the win... Bradenton was shutout 5-0 by Palm Beach... State College edgedTri-City 3-1 to complete a three game sweep.

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 July 7, 2012


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