SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power vs. Suns - Game Notes - July 1, 2013

July 1, 2013 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


THE LEAD OFF: West Virginia rallied for a 5-4 win at Lakewood on Sunday. The Power held a 1-0 lead on Raul Fortunatofs third inning home run, but trailed 2-1 after six. Kawika Emsley-Pai singled in the game-tying run in the top of the seventh, but the BlueClaws took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning and added a run in the eighth. West Virginia scored three in the top of the ninth, including a game-tying run on a errant double play attempt and a double by Barrett Barnes that plated Ashley Ponce for a 5-4 lead. Kyle Haynes earned the win and Delvi Francisco took the loss.

NO SWOON: West Virginia finished June with 15 wins over 26 games, including eight since the second half started on June 20, to follow their club record-tying 20 wins during May. The teamfs batting average dropped slightly during the month, from .271 at the end of May to .268 entering July (a .261 average during June). The staff earned run average has also fallen, from 4.13 on May 31 to 3.90 as of June 30 (a 3.39 ERA during June). It marks the second straight month that the staff ERA has been lower than the month before.

HELLO HUB CITY: West Virginia will open itsf only series in Hagerstown tonight at 7:05 pm. The Power and first half division champion Suns have already played ten games this season, all of which have been played in Charleston. The teams split the first ten games with five victories apiece, including two West Virginia wins in three games last week.

GO FOR KUCHNO: Pittsburgh promoted right-hander John Kuchno back to the Power roster today and promoted reliever Pat Ludwig to the Bradenton Marauders. Kuchno will make his 15th appearance and 12th start this evening.

ON TO THE NEXT ONE: Barrett Barnes went 1-5 Sunday with a ninth inning double to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, matching Walker Gourley for the longest streak by a Power player this season. Barnes is batting .328 during his streak with 19 hits over 58 at bats, including three home runs and 14 runs batted in.

ADIOS: Raul Fortunatofs third inning home run on Sunday was his first in exactly a month. The Power outfielder hit his fourth home run on May 30 at Lakewood off Jonathan Musser and hit his fifth yesterday off Jeb Stefan. Fortunato has hit his home runs in three different parks this season; one at home, two at Ashevillefs McCormick Field, and this pair at FirstEnergy Park.

FALLINf: The Power fell in shutout fashion for the six time on Saturday night; though it was only the second time they have been blanked this month. Since becoming a Pirates affiliate in 2009, West Virginia has not been held scoreless more than eight times in any one season.

CRACKING THE CLAWS: The Power took three of four from the BlueClaws over the weekend and have claimed 13 wins in 16 tries this season against Lakewood. The two clubs still have eight more meeting this season, playing two series in early August. West Virginia now holds a 67-61 lead in the all-time series.

POWER POINTS: Power second baseman and SAL All-Star Dilson Herrera will join 2012 Power All-Star and current Altoona Curve outfielder Gregory Polanco in the 2013 MLB Futures Game at Citi Field on July 14... Walker Gourley has nine stolen bases in 11 second half games after stealing 14 in 56 first half games... Will Kendall, a 30th round draft choice by Pittsburgh earlier this month out of Auburn, has been signed and added to the West Virginia Disabled List.

PROMO UPDATE- JULY 4- The Power will host the Lexington Legends on July 4 at 6:05 pm. The game will be followed by a fireworks show and a concert by the Davisson Brothers Band.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh beat Milwaukee 2-1 in 14 innings. Russell Martin singled in Gaby Sanchez to secure the series sweep... Louisville doubled up Indianapolis 4-2... Altoona edged Akron 5-4... Bradenton fell 7-5 to Palm Beach... Jamestown slipped past Auburn 6-5 in 12 innings. Harold Ramirez singled in Jeff Roy to win it.

ON THE AIR: West Virginia Power games can be heard on Charlestonfs ESPN 104.5 FM and 1490 AM in Charleston, WV, and online at wvpower.com. Adam Marco will call the action for all 140 games this season and will be joined by Mike Baggerman when the team plays at Appalachian Power Park.

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