SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

West Virginia Power: Game Notes (April 29)

Published on April 29, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


West Virginia goes for its first series sweep of the season on Sunday afternoon against the Lexington Legends, with first pitch slated for 2:05 p.m. LHP Domingo Robles (1-1, 3.98 ERA) is on the slab.

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TIMELY OFFENSE, BULLPEN LEAD TO 4-2 WIN: Ben Bengtson's fourth-inning home run was the offensive difference maker on Saturday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, as the Hartford product's dinger gave West Virginia a 3-2 lead that they would not surrender thanks to four strong innings from the bullpen and a ninth-inning insurance run. The Legends cracked the scoreboard first in the opening frame, scoring a pair of runs on RBI singles from Sebastian Rivero and Marten Gasparini, but that was all the offense they would muster against Power starter Ike Schlabach, who went five innings for the second straight start and allowed four hits to pick up his first Low-A victory. Oneil Cruz knotted the game at two with a two-out, two run single against Lexington's Janser Lara, who tossed a season-high 4.1 innings in the loss. West Virginia eked ahead in the fourth on Bengtson's bomb to right and added their final run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly from Chris Sharpe. Joel Cesar spun three brilliant innings of relief, ceding just one hit and fanning four to grab the hold, while Matt Seelinger picked up his second save with a scoreless ninth.

ONE STREAK ENDS SO ANOTHER CAN BEGIN: Mitchell's 13-game hitting streak came to a close on Saturday night in Lexington, as the Power outfielder went 0-for-4 with a run scored. His 15-game on-base streak also ended, as the only time he worked his way aboard was via a fielder's choice in the second inning. Over Mitchell's 13-game stretch, the 2017 second-round selection boasted a .452 (24-for-53) clip with a home run and 12 RBI. Mitchell was 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 .364, a mark which leads all players remaining in the South Atlantic League (Juan Soto, .373 with HAG still qualifies despite his elevation to Potomac). His 32 hits top the SAL, while his .418 on-base percentage is fourth-highest and his three triples rank tied for second. The outfielder earned SAL Player of the Week honors for the week of April 16-22, 2018.

MORE ON MITCHELL'S STREAK: Mitchell's 13-game hit streak is tied for the longest hit streak in Low-A ball in 2018 with Bowling Green's Vidal Brujan, who hit safely in 13 consecutive contests from April 5 to April 21. Mitchell's stretch was the longest active hitting streak in all of Single-A baseball and the fourth-longest in Minor League Baseball entering Saturday's play. His 15-game on-base streak is tied for the fourth-longest in the SAL in 2018.

HAMMER TIME: With Bengtson's solo shot in the fourth inning of Saturday's middle match, West Virginia now has 22 home runs on the year, second-best in the South Atlantic League behind Asheville, who has 27 long balls as a team. Bengtson is the second West Virginia player to homer in consecutive games in 2018, as Deon Stafford accomplished the feat on April 25 and April 26 against Rome. The Power have homered in four of their last five games.

BREAK OUT THE BROOMS: After taking the first two games of their series against the Lexington Legends, West Virginia has the opportunity to go for their first series sweep of the season on Sunday afternoon. Last year, West Virginia swept away four different opponent (Delmarva, Lakewood, Hickory and Lexington).

HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS: The Power and the Legends renew the Hatfield and McCoy series this weekend at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, as West Virginia contends with Lexington in the first three 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, 144-116.

THE PITCHING MATCHUP: LHP Domingo Robles (1-1, 3.98 ERA) is on the bump for West Virginia in the series finale, as the southpaw looks to continue a hot stretch of late where he has allowed one run and three hits over his last 11 innings pitched while setting down 16 batters. The Legends are countering with RHP Nolan Watson (1-1, 6.75 ERA).

POWER POINTS: Power relievers have held the first batters they have faced in an appearance to a .163 (7-43) stroke, with 15 strikeouts... West Virginia's bullpen has not allowed an earned run over their last 11 relief innings, surrendering just five hits and striking out 16 batters... The Power are 11-2 when they hit a HR.

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 29, 2018


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