SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

West Virginia Power: Game Notes (April 27)

Published on April 27, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


After a 4-4 homestand, the Power are in Lexington, Kentucky, for the first game of a three-game series against the Legends. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. with LHP Braeden Ogle (2-0, 3.00 ERA) on the slab.

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WEST VIRGINIA OUTSLUGS ROME IN SERIES FINALE: Mason Martin, Ryan Peurifoy and Deon Stafford all homered on Thursday, with Peurifoy's three-run home run in the eighth inning marking the difference as the Power pushed past the Braves, 10-8, at Appalachian Power Park in the series finale against Rome. After the Braves jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of solo home runs against Gavin Wallace, West Virginia responded with a six-run third inning, capped off by Martin's three-run shot to right, to take a 6-2 edge. Rome retaliated with three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth off Power relievers Hunter Stratton and Blake Cederlind to push back in front 7-6, but Stafford gulfed his second home run of the year around the left field foul pole in the seventh to tie the game at seven. The Braves tagged Cederlind for another run in the eighth, but West Virginia would not be denied in the home half of the inning, as Peurifoy crushed a 406-foot bomb well over the left field fence to give the Power a 10-8 lead that they would not relinquish. Jacob Taylor earned his second career save after working around a two-out walk in the ninth inning.

MASHING MITCHELL: Calvin Mitchell went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk in Thursday's series finale, extending his hitting streak to a team-best 12 games and his on-base streak to 14 games. His two-run double moved his team-leading RBI total to 17 on the year, a mark which ranks highest in the Pirates system. Mitchell's 12-game hitting streak is traced back to April 14 while his 14-game on-base streak dates back to April 12 when the Power opened up their road schedule in Hickory. Over Mitchell's 12-game stretch, the 2017 second-round selection is boasting a .417 (20-for-48) clip with a home run and 11 RBI. Mitchell is the first Power player to string together at least a 10-game hitting streak since Carlos Munoz posted a 12-game stretch from July 9-22, 2017. Due to this recent surge, Mitchell has upticked his season average to .354, which sits at second-best in the South Atlantic League. His 28 hits top the SAL, while his .416 on-base percentage is fifth-highest and his three triples rank tied for second. The Power outfielder's superb numbers earned him SAL Player of the Week honors for the week of April 16-22, 2018.

HAMMER TIME: With yesterday's offensive surge, West Virginia bats recorded three home runs in a game for the third time this season. Martin rocked his fourth home run of the year to tie him with Oneil Cruz for the team lead, while Stafford homered in consecutive games, the first time a Power player has accomplished that feat since Adrian Valerio on August 3 and 4 against Delmarva. Peurifoy's eight-inning game-changer was his first home run of the season. As a team, West Virginia has 20 home runs on the year, good for third-best in the South Atlantic League (Asheville 23, Lexington 21).

HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS: The Power and the Legends renew the Hatfield and McCoy series on Friday evening at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, as West Virginia contends with Lexington in the first of 20 matchups between these two clubs in 2018. Each team will host 10 contests over the season series, with the Power trekking to Kentucky in late May and July, while Lexington travels to Appalachian Power Park in mid-May, early June and July, including the Power's July 4th extravaganza game. West Virginia claimed the Golden Pig trophy in 2017 by ekeing out a 13-12 series win over Lexington. The Power hold the all-time series lead over the Legends, 142-116. As a part of the Hatfield and McCoy rivarly between the two franchises, West Virginia and Lexington will don special Hatfield and McCoy jerseys, respectively, during several of their matchups to represent the ancient feud between the two families.

ROSTER MOVES: The Power announced several roster moves prior to Friday's series opener against the Legends.

- Adam Oller has been promoted to A-Advanced Bradenton and Gavin Wallace has been placed on the disabled list.

- Beau Sulser and Drew Fischer have joined the Power's active roster as corresponding moves.

THE PITCHING MATCHUP: LHP Braeden Ogle (2-0, 3.00 ERA) heads to the hill for Friday's series opener against the Legends, as the southpaw looks to spin his third quality start in a row. The Florida native has allowed just two runs over his last 12 innings pitched. Lexington counters with their own lefty, Daniel Tillo (0-0, 1.96 ERA).

POWER POINTS: Power relievers have held the first batters they have faced in an appearance to a .184 (7-38) stroke, with 11 strikeouts... The Power are 9-2 when they hit a HR... West Virginia is 8-0 when scoring six or more runs in a contest.

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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