SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

West Virginia Power: Game Notes (April 11)

Published on April 11, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


After splitting a doubleheader on Tuesday, West Virginia and Lakewood conclude their three-game series at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday morning with a 10:35 a.m. first pitch. LHP Domingo Robles gets the call in the series finale.

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POWER PACK PUNCH IN GAME ONE: West Virginia scored six run over their first three offensive frames, including three home runs from Oneil Cruz, Lolo Sanchez and Mason Martin, to buoy the Power to an 8-5 game one victory. Cruz's jack got the scoring going in the first as he took BlueClaws starter Connor Brogdon deep to right-center, while Sanchez's came in the more unique inside-the-park variety. Martin clocked his second home run of the 2018 campaign in the third inning off Lakewood reliever Randy Alcantara to straightaway center field. Power starter Braeden Ogle was solid in his Low-A debut, allowing three runs on two hits through three innings of work on 70 pitches, while Adam Oller picked up the win in relief with three sterling frames, surrending two runs (one earned) on two hits. Blake Weiman snagged West Virginia's first save of 2018 with a spotless seventh inning.

LAKEWOOD OFFENSE EXPLODES IN NIGHTCAP: The BlueClaws turned the tide in game two of the twin bill, as Lakewood starter David Parkinson was spectacular in his Low-A debut, blanking the Power over five innings and coughing up just two hits and a pair of walks while fanning nine men, one shy of his career high. Meanwhile, the BlueClaws bats came to life, as Lakewood scored in five of its seven offensive frames, including a four-run first and a five-run seventh. In total, the Claws compiled 15 runs on 14 hits, while West Virginia's bats were stymied to just two runs, both of which they plated in the final frame thanks to an RBI from Dylan Busby and a passed ball charged to Lakewood backstop Gregori Rivero. Sergio Cubilete suffered the loss in his Low-A debut, lasting just 2.1 innings while allowing nine runs (three earned) on eight hits, both career-highs, over 71 pitches. Ike Schlabach made his second appearance out of the bullpen in 2018, spinning 3.2 frames and giving up one run on two hits while striking out four, and Ben Bengtson made his professional debut on the mound and completed the seventh inning.

THE HOME RUN PARTY CONTINUES: Over their last four games, West Virginia has hit eight home runs, with seven different participants contributing to the long ball parade. Calvin Mitchell, Kyle Watson, Rafelin Lorenzo, Sanchez, Martin (twice), Chris Sharpe and Cruz have all registered at least one roundtripper in 2018. Martin's pair of dingers are tied for fourth-best in the South Atlantic League, while the Power's eight homers as a team are a league-best, edging out Lexington by one.

THE WRONG SIDE OF DOUBLE DIGITS: Lakewood's 15-run output in game two of the doubleheader was the first time a team has hung double digits on West Virginia in 2018, and the first since August 26 of last season, when Hagerstown posted 13 runs at Appalachian Power Park. The BlueClaws also became the first Power opponent to tally 15 runs since April 5, 2013, when the Asheville Tourists accomplished the feat in Charleston.

GOING STREAKING: Mitchell, the Pirates' 16th-best prospect per MLB.com, is riding a six-game hitting streak to start 2018. The outfielder is the only Power slugger to have a hit in each of the team's first six games, during which he is batting .316 with (6-for-19) with a home run, three RBI, two triples and a 1.119 OPS.

BLUECLAWS SCOUTING REPORT: West Virginia welcomes the Lakewood BlueClaws to the Kanawha Valley for the first of two three-game sets at Appalachian Power Park in 2018. The BlueClaws are 2-4 on the season after dropping three of four to the Kannapolis Intimidators to open the 2018 campaign, including a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the I's, before splitting a twin bill with West Virginia on Tuesday. Lakewood's roster consists of four top-30 Philadelphia prospects per Baseball America, including #7 Jhailyn Ortiz, #14 Simon Muzziotti, #18 Spencer Howard and #20 Daniel Brito. Brito is in his second season with the BlueClaws, while Ortiz has elevated to the Low-A level after earning All-Star accolades in the New York-Penn League a season ago with Williamsport.

THE PITCHING MATCHUP: LHP Domingo Robles (0-1, 12.27 ERA) will take the ball in the series finale against the BlueClaws, while Lakewood counters with RHP Ramon Rosso (0-1, 1.93 ERA). Both starters pitched on Opening Day, with Robles suffering the loss after going just 3.2 innings while Rosso spun 4.2 frames and earned a no-decision.

POWER POINTS: The Power went 4-for-21 (.190) with runners in scoring position across both games of the twin bill on Tuesday... West Virginia DHs are 1-for-14 through six games... Mitchell's two triples are tied for best in the SAL.

ON THE AIR: West Virginia Power games can be heard on The Jock 1300 & 1340 AM in the Kanawha Valley, online at wvpower.com and on the TuneIn Radio App. David Kahn and John Kocsis will handle play-by-play duties in 2018.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 11, 2018


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