SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Game Notes

Published on July 17, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


West Virginia Power (13-11, 36-58) at Augusta GreenJackets (13-10, 45-47)

Games 95 & 96 | July 17, 2012 | Lake Olmstead Stadium | Augusta, GA

Radio: ESPN Radio 104.5 FM & 1490 and wvpower.com Air Time- 4:45 p.m.

TONIGHT'S MATCHUPS

Game One: RH Zack Von Rosenberg (2-2, 4.73) vs. LH Edwin Escobar (3-5, 3.70)

Game Two: RH Nick Kingham (1-7, 6.06) vs. RH Clayton Blackburn (6-2, 2.81)

FOUR! West Virginia and Augusta complete of their only series this year with a twinbill tonight at Lake Olmstead Stadium. The Power trail 24-18 in the all-time series and have gone 11-19 on the road in the series since 2005.

POWER REPLAY: West Virginia fell 4-3 at Augusta on Sunday. The Power struck first with a two- run third inning on a double by Gregory Polanco that plated Elias Diaz and Alen Hanson, but the Jackets answered in the bottom of the inning with two bases loaded walks. West Virginia took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Polanco, but Augusta again responded by taking advantage of another bases loaded walk and a sac fly. The Power had one baserunner after the fifth and could not even the score. Ryan Hafner walked seven and took the loss despite only allowing one hit over five innings.

DOUBLEHEADER DISH: The Power are 4-2 on true doubleheader days this season. West Virginia split a twinbill at Asheville on May 2, falling 6-3 in game one and winning 5-3 in the second game. Though MLB Advanced Media does not recognize it as a true doubleheader, the Power played a day-night twinbill on May 25. The Power beat the Kannapolis Intimidators 3-2 during a nine inning Grand Slam School Day then fell 12-5 in the Friday evening game. Today marks the second official doubleheader of this road trip. West Virginia took two from Rome on Friday, winning 6-1 and 9-0. The Power and Braves also played 14 innings last Wednesday to complete a suspended game and play the regularly scheduled contest (which was switched two a seven inning game).

BASES LOADED BOONDOGGLE: West Virginia pitchers have now walked 17 batters with the bags full this season and hit five (most in the league in both categories). Power pitchers have also allowed six grand slams this year, the most by any team in the league.

K KINGS: Nick Kingham leads the team with 73 strikeouts over 78.2 innings pitched. Zack Von Rosenberg led the Power in 2011 with 114 over 125.2 innings, Kyle McPherson had 124 in 117.2 innings in 2010, and Gabriel Alvarado had 96 over 114.0 innings in 2009. Should Kingham stay in the rotation on schedule every fifth day, he is on pace to make 10 more starts. That puts the right-hander on pace to match Von Rosenberg's strikeout total from last season, which was third most in team history.

LEADING THE FIELD: Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco lead all Pirates minor leaguers in hitting (among those with enough at bats to qualify). Hanson's .329 average tops the list, while Polanco's .318 mark is second. Hanson also leads the system in home runs, while Polanco leads the entire organization with 34 steals and is second among Pittsburgh minor leaguers with 62 runs batted in (Bradenton's Alex Dickerson- 67).

PROMO CHECK- JULY 19: West Virginia will host Purple Power Night on July 19. The team will wear purple jerseys that will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting pancreatic cancer research.

POWER POINTS: West Virginia has now hit 65 home runs through 94 games this season. The 2011 club hit 63 over 138 games... One win in any of the next today will give the Power their first winning road trip this season regardless of length... Power pitchers combined for their first shutout of the 2012 season in Friday's nightcap... Matt Benedict's 3.42 ERA will remain as the club's best until after tonight's first game at Augusta. Benedict was promoted to Bradenton during the SAL All-Star break.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh lost 5-1 at Colorado. The Buccos tied the game in the ninth on a Pedro Alvarez home run, but a Dexter Fowler sac fly won the game in walk-off fashion... Indianapolis beat Gwinnett 7-5... Altoona fell 5-3at Richmond... Bradenton lost 7-5 at Clearwater... State College dropped a 7-4 final to Brooklyn.

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 17, 2012


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