NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Charleston Dirty Birds

West Virginia Power: Game Notes (July 14)

July 14, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


West Virginia opens up a four-game series with the Delmarva Shorebirds tonight at Appalachian Power Park, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. RHP Travis MacGregor (1-2, 2.54 ERA) takes the hill for the Power.

------------------------------------------------

BOLTON DAZZLES IN EXTRA-INNING LOSS: Cody Bolton turned in the best performance of his MiLB career, but the Power's bullpen could not quell a four-inning Hickory rally that led to a walk-off, 5-4, win for the Crawdads Friday night at L.P. Frans Stadium, handing West Virginia its third straight series defeat. Bolton dazzled over a career-high seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out a career-best nine batters and walking one. The Power gave him plenty of run support early, as Fabricio Macias laced an RBI single against A.J. Alexy in the second for a 1-0 West Virginia lead. After Hickory tied it in the home half, the Power strung together three straight hits to open the third. Oneil Cruz squeaked one past Yonny Hernandez at second that he turned into a hustle double, Calvin Mitchell singled him to third and Raul Hernandez brought him in with a single of his own to push West Virginia back in front. Two batters later, Ryan Peurifoy doubled in Mitchell and Hernandez to extend the Power's edge to three. Bolton dominated from there, allowing three hits over his final five innings, with Hickory's lone additional run coming in the seventh on an RBI groundout from Miguel Aparicio. Elvis Escobar relieved Bolton in the eighth and got the first two outs quickly, but Ryan Dorow kept the inning alive with a single before coming around on a double from Preston Scott. Aparicio then tied things in the ninth with a solo homer to send the game to extras. West Virginia failed to bring in its placed on runner in the top of the 10th, but Hickory was able to do damage against Matt Seelinger. With Tyler Ratliff on second, Hernandez singled and swiped second before Dorow was intentionally walked. Preston Scott then lofted a sacrifice fly to right that scored Ratliff and gave Hickory the walk-off win.

GETTING BACK TO FORM: After back-to-back losses for Bolton against the Hagerstown Suns, the right-hander tossed a seven-inning gem Friday night against the Crawdads. Bolton used 92 pitches over those seven innings, also a career-best, while posting his fourth quality start in eight outings with West Virginia and lowering his ERA to 2.83. Despite throwing back-to-back quality efforts, the Power have dropped both of those games. West Virginia is 19-9 when its starter goes six innings or more and 5-2 when the starter completes the seventh inning.

ONE RUN NO FUN: The Power are now 13-14 (.481) in one-run games in 2018, the eighth-highest winning percentage in the South Atlantic League. West Virginia is also 13-11 in games decided in the last at-bat.

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END: Escobar allowed his first runs since joining West Virginia's bullpen Friday night, giving up two runs on three hits over two innings. Prior to Friday's blown save, the converted outfielder had tossed five scoreless frames and ceded just one hit while striking out five batters.

TOUGH STRETCH: West Virginia has now lost three series in a row for the second time this season, with the other time dating back to May 17-June 3, when Lexington (2x), Columbia, Kannapolis and Greensboro took five straight series from the Power. West Virginia's bullpen has struggled in the second half, posting a 5.00 ERA with three blown saves.

PURE DESIGNATION: Peurifoy has been the most potent designated hitter West Virginia has had in 2018. In 17 games as the DH, the right-handed slugger boasts a .339 (19-for-56) clip with three home runs, 12 RBI and seven doubles, all highs among the 16 total Power batters that have been the DH this season. West Virginia is 10-7 when Peurifoy is utilized as the designated hitter. Kyle Watson is the only Power batter with a better DH record (12-4) than Peurifoy.

SAL ALL-STAR GAME RETURNS TO CHARLESTON: The West Virginia Power and the City of Charleston will host the 2019 South Atlantic League All-Star Game, the team announced Thursday afternoon. 2019 will mark the second time Appalachian Power Park has played host to the SAL's Mid-Summer Classic, with the first time occurring back in 2009. The City of Charleston hosted the All-Star Game for the first time in 1989, when the team was named the Charleston Wheelers. The 2019 South Atlantic League All-Star Game will take place on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

HANRAHAN TABBED TO LEAD U.S. TEAM BULLPEN IN FUTURES GAME: Power pitching coach Joel Hanrahan has been selected as the Bullpen Coach for the United States team at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, taking place on Sunday, July 15, at 4 p.m. at Nationals Park during All-Star Weekend. Hanrahan will man the relief corps for the U.S. squad and is joined on the roster by former Power players RHP Mitch Keller and INF Ke'Bryan Hayes.

POWER POINTS: The Power is 34-15 when scoring first... West Virginia fell for the first time in extra innings on the road (1-1). The Power is 5-3 in extra-inning affairs... West Virginia was walked off on for the second time in 2018.

Check out the Charleston Dirty Birds Statistics

• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...

South Atlantic League Stories from July 14, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central