SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

West Virginia Power: Game Notes (August 16)

Published on August 16, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


West Virginia continues its three-game series with the Columbia Fireflies tonight, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. from Appalachian Power Park. LHP Oddy Nunez (0-0, 2.25 ERA) makes his second start for the Power in 2018.

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COLUMBIA TAKES SERIES OPENER: Even with a freshly-stocked lineup that included three 2018 draft picks, West Virginia could not solve Zac Grotz and Columbia's pitching staff, as they fell to the Fireflies, 5-2, Wednesday night in the series opener at Appalachian Power Park. Grotz held the Power to two runs over seven innings of work, striking out six and allowing five hits and zero walks. West Virginia managed its only two runs against Grotz in the fifth as Deon Stafford led off the frame with a double before scoring two batters later on Dylan Busby's two-bagger into the left-field corner. Luke Mangieri singled in Busby later in the frame to cut Columbia's lead to 4-2. The Fireflies built an early 4-0 lead with two runs in the second on RBI singles from Hansel Moreno and David Miranda before Rigoberto Terrazas added an RBI knock in the fourth and Scott Manea launched his ninth home run of the season in the fifth to make it 4-0. Edgardo Fermin provided the final tally of the evening, stroking his eighth long ball of the season to left off Joel Cesar. Joshua Payne locked down his first save in five opportunities after spinning two scoreless innings.

KRANICK THE K-MAN: Max Kranick struck out seven batters over his five innings pitched in his 15th start of the year for West Virginia Wednesday night. Kranick has now struck out six batters or more in three of his last four starts, as well as in six of his 15 outings. The Valley View (PA) High School product has recorded 69 strikeouts over 69 innings during his time at the Low-A level, with his strikeouts sitting at third-best amongst the Power's current arms (Travis MacGregor, 74), while his innings are tied for third-most with Sergio Cubilete (Hunter Stratton, 84.2).

SURGING STAFFORD: Stafford has been hitting very well since coming off the disabled list August 4. After averaging .308 (4-for-13) with a grand slam, the first of his career, and seven RBI in three games at Rome, which included his career-best six-RBI effort Saturday, Stafford went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Wednesday's opener. Since returning from the shelf in early August, the backstop is averaging .333 (11-for-33) with three home runs and 11 RBI. This surge comes after posting a .159 July clip, his worst month of the season.

STREAKING SANCHEZ: Lolo Sanchez has hit safely in each of his last six games, a new season-best. Over this six-game stretch, Sanchez is averaging .400 (8-for-20) with five runs scored and an RBI. With his 2-for-4 effort Wednesday, the Dominican native posted his 21st multi-hit game of the season, third-most on the Power (Oneil Cruz, 30; Calvin Mitchell 26). Sanchez is currently riding the Power's 17th hitting streak of six games or more in 2018.

HOW'D THEY DO: The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted three of their 2018 draft picks to the Power Wednesday afternoon: OF Travis Swaggerty (1st Rd), INF Connor Kaiser (3rd Rd) and Mangieri (25th Rd). All three made their Low-A debuts last night, and here is how they performed:

- Swaggerty: 1-for-4, lead-off triple in the first (second triple of his MiLB career)

- Mangieri: 1-for-3, RBI single in the fifth inning (17th RBI of the season)

- Kaiser: 0-for-3 as the team's starting shortstop

WHAT A RELIEF: Cesar was brilliant in relief of Kranick Wednesday night, twirling four innings out of the bullpen, which tied his career-high set back on May 3 against Augusta. The right-hander only ceded one hit, Fermin's home run in the eighth, which came after he set down the first eight batters he contended with. Cesar also fanned five men, again tying his career-high from June 13 at Augusta (also July 19, 2017, at Auburn when he was with the Black Bears).

WELCOME BACK, BUSBY: Busby was activated off the disabled list Wednesday afternoon after completing a rehab assignment with the rookie-level Bristol Pirates. In his first game back with West Virginia since May 20, he went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while holding down the hot corner and batting in the sixth spot in the order.

PLAYOFF PUSH: With West Virginia's loss to Columbia and Kannapolis' extra-innings win over Augusta, the Intimidators now hold a 2.5 game lead in the race for the South Atlantic League's Northern Division Wild Card spot. West Virginia has 18 games remaining in the 2018 season with only one series left against an above-.500 team this year.

POWER POINTS: Thursday starter Oddy Nunez makes his first career appearance against the Columbia Fireflies tonight. Dating back to last season, Nunez has thrown four quality starts in his line nine starts with the Power... Sanchez was caught stealing for the 12th time last night... The Power turned their 85th double play of the season Wednesday.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 16, 2018


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