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Charleston Dirty Birds

West Virginia Power: Game Notes (April 22)

April 22, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


The Power go for their first series sweep of 2018 as LHP Ike Schlabach (0-0, 5.91 ERA) takes the hill against the Asheville Tourists. First pitch is at 2:05 p.m..

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MITCHELL GOES OFF IN 13-2 WIN: Calvin Mitchell went 4-for-5 with four RBI and a pair of runs scored, tying his career highs in hits, RBI and runs scored, along with a triple as West Virginia's offense posted 13 runs on 15 hits, including a seven-run eighth frame, to pummel the Asheville Tourists, 13-2, on Saturday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park. In the win, Braeden Ogle spun his second consecutive quality start with another six-inning, one-run gem while striking out a career-high eight batters, and the bullpen duo of Matt Seelinger and Jacob Taylor held steady over the final three frames to give the Power their fourth consecutive win, and seventh in their last eight games. In the Power's second seven-run inning of the year, they sent 11 men to the plate, with Dylan Busby bookending the scoring with his second career home run and an RBI single in the frame. Rafelin Lorenzo also contributed a 3-for-4 effort with three runs scored, while Mason Martin and Oneil Cruz drove in multiple runs as well.

MASHING MITCHELL: Mitchell's 4-for-5 effort with a triple and four RBI in Saturday's game pushed his team-leading RBI total to 15 on the season, also the most in the Pirates system. Mitchell is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak and a nine-game on-base streak, with the latter dating back to April 12 when the Power opened up their road schedule in Hickory. Over Mitchell's seven-game stretch (April 14-current), the 2017 second-round selection is boasting a .484 (15-for-31) clip with a home run and nine RBI, along with a 1.242 OPS. Due to this recent surge, Mitchell has upticked his season average to .371 and slugging percentage to .677, both of which are fourth-best in the South Atlantic League. His 15 RBI are third-best amongst league sluggers, while his 23 hits top the SAL and his three triples rank tied for second. The Power outfielder's .371 average is second-highest in the Pirates system, trailing only Christopher Bostick (.378) of Indianapolis. Mitchell's four RBI game was the second time a Power player drove in four runs in a contest, as Cruz accomplished the feat on April 13 at Hickory.

A QUALITY ROTATION: The Power rotation has come on strong over its last six games, with their last five starters, who had the opportunity to do so, turning in quality starts, while Evan Piechota spun a defacto quality outing after relieving Sergio Cubilete in the first inning when he was struck by a line drive on April 17 against the RiverDogs. Counting Piechota's six-inning relief gem, West Virginia's rotation has gone 5-0 over its last six contests with a 1.50 ERA (6 ER/36 IP), giving up 23 hits and seven walks while collecting 37 strikeouts. MacGregor's season ERA of 0.73 would lead all Pirates farmhands and sit at fourth-best in the South Atlantic League if he had enough innings to qualify, while Piechota's 1.29 mark ranks eighth. Ogle's 3.00 ERA is the ninth-best among Pirates farmhands.

BREAK OUT THE BROOMS: After taking the first three games of their series against the Asheville Tourists, West Virginia has the opportunity to go for their first series sweep of the season on Sunday afternoon. The Power have not swept a four-game series against an opponent since they broomed the Delmarva Shorebirds from August 3-6, 2017, at Appalachian Power Park. Last year, West Virginia swept away four different opponent (Delmarva, Lakewood, Hickory and Lexington).

ROLLING RIGHT ALONG: With their 13-2 win on Saturday, the Power claimed their first four-game win streak of 2018, and their seventh win in their last eight games. Last year, West Virginia's longest winning streak was an eight-game stretch from August 2-9, beginning with a series finale win in Lexington before sweeping Delmarva and Lakewood.

THE PITCHING MATCHUP: LHP Ike Schlabach (0-0, 5.91 ERA) takes the hill for West Virginia on Sunday, as the southpaw makes his second spot start at the Low-A level. In his previous start on 4/14 at Hickory, the Ohio native allowed 5 ER through 4 IP. Asheville counters with LHP Lucas Gilbreath (1-0, 8.18), making his first start of 2018.

POWER POINTS: Over their last 10 games, the West Virginia bullpen has posted a 2.55 ERA (12ER/42.1 IP) with 49 strikeouts... The Power are 6-0 when their starter lasts six innings... West Virginia relievers have held the first batters they have faced in an outing to a .179 (5-for-28) clip thus far, with seven strikeouts... Cruz's four home runs are the most amongst Pirates minor league sluggers, and rank fifth in the SAL (Juan Soto, HAG)... The Power's 11-run margin of the victory marked their widest run differential in a win this season... West Virginia will play 12 of its next 15 games at Appalachian Power Park.

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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