West Virginia Power: Game Notes (May 1)
May 1, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
The Power open up a seven-game homestand tonight with a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Augusta GreenJackets. RHP Travis MacGregor (1-1, 2.08 ERA) is on the mound and below.
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EARLY MISCUES LEAD TO 9-4 LOSS SUNDAY: The Lexington Legends sent 12 men to the plate in the first inning of Sunday's series finale at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, plating seven runs (none earned) on just hits while the Power committed four errors in the frame, forcing the early departure of starter Domingo Robles after just 0.2 innings, the shortest start of his career. West Virginia tried to claw back with single tallies in the second and third innings, with the latter coming on Rodolfo Castro's first home run of the season, but the Legends tagged Jacob Taylor for back-to-back homers in the fourth to put the game out of reach for good. In the loss, Raul Hernandez picked up his first hit at the Low-A level, a scorched RBI double to center in the second inning. Blake Weiman and Evan Piechota continued their strong starts to the year, as both relievers spun two scoreless frames and combined to cede just three hits.
HAMMER TIME: With Castro's solo shot in the second inning of Sunday's series finale, West Virginia now has 23 home runs on the year, tied for second-best in the South Atlantic League with Lexington and trailing only Asheville, who has 28 long balls as a team. The Power have homered in five of their last six games. Every batter on the current roster for West Virginia now possesses at least one homer except for Hernandez, who has only played two games in the SAL.
SHARPENING THE BASEPATHS: Since April 18, Chris Sharpe has reached base safely in all 11 games he has played for the Power. The outfielder now holds the second-longest on-base streak on the team behind Calvin Mitchell, who reached base in 15 consecutive contests before seeing his streak end on April 28 in Lexington. During this stretch, Sharpe is averaging .278 (10-for-36) with three RBI and eight runs. On the season, the Boston native's .370 on-base percentage is second on the team to Mitchell's .418, while his .762 OPS is fifth-best. Sharpe has reached in 19 of the 22 games he has suited up for this season.
GOING STREAKING: Mason Martin has recorded a hit in each of his last six games, dating back to April 25. The Kennewick, Wash., native is averaging .364 (8-for-22) with a home run and five RBI during this span, upticking his average to .262 through 24 games. Martin is tied for the team lead in home runs with Oneil Cruz at four apiece. Mitchell holds the team's longest hitting streak of the season at 13 games.
THE MISFORTUNE OF MISCUES: Through the season's first month, West Virginia has struggled defensively. After committing four errors in the first inning on Sunday, the Power have been stricken with 45 errors over their first 24 games, a mark that gives them a .947 fielding percentage, the worst in the South Atlantic League. Cruz leads the SAL with 11 errors. The Power's backstops have had trouble behind the dish as well, with Deon Stafford, Rafelin Lorenzo and Hernandez combining for 11 passed balls, also the most in the league.
HOME-HEAVY SLATE: West Virginia is finishing up a home-heavy stretch of late, during which the Power are playing 15 of 18 games at Appalachian Power Park. Following the conclusion of their seven-game homestand, West Virginia will finish off the first half with 24 of their remaining 38 games on the road, including their first visits to Hagerstown, Lakewood, Columbia, Greensboro and Augusta. At home, the Power will commence a pair of four-game series against Lexington and the Kannapolis Intimidators, while greeting the Legends and the Delmarva Shorebirds for three-game sets in June.
THE PITCHING MATCHUP: RHP Travis MacGregor (1-1, 2.08 ERA) gets the start in game one against the GreenJackets on Tuesday. In three starts at home, MacGregor is 1-0 with a 2.20 ERA over 16.1 innings pitched with 26 strikeouts to four walks. Batters are hitting a miniscule .194 against the righty at home versus a .429 clip on the road. The GreenJackets will oppose MacGregor with LHP John Gavin (2-0, 1.37 ERA), who has won his last two starts.
POWER POINTS: Power relievers have held the first batters they have faced in an appearance to a .156 (7-45) stroke, with 16 strikeouts... West Virginia's bullpen has allowed just two earned runs over their last 18.1 relief innings, good for a 0.98 ERA while striking out 21 batters... The Power are 11-3 when they hit a HR... West Virginia dropped to 10-3 when outhitting the opponent... The Power went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position on Sunday, giving them a 4-for-35 (.114) clip over their three-game road swing.
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.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 1, 2018
- Five-Run Eighth Inning Propels Legends over Fireflies - Lexington Legends
- RiverDogs Manage One Run against Struggling Asheville Staff - Charleston RiverDogs
- Peurifoy's Walk-Off Homer Secures Wild 6-4 Win on Tuesday - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Miller Flirts with Gem But Suns Rally Late - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Hoekstra's Triple Lifts Rome Over Lakewood, 5-2 - Rome Emperors
- Claws Drop Series Opener 5-2 at Rome - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- All Good Things Come to an End - Augusta GreenJackets
- Craport Lights up Drive in 'Birds Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Gilbreath Leads Tourists to 3-1 Road Victory - Asheville Tourists
- Drive Defeated by Shorebirds on Tuesday - Greenville Drive
- Fireflies Game Notes: May 1 vs. Lexington (Game 25) - Columbia Fireflies
- Haley Skarupa to be Faith and Family Guest Speaker - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Bark for Your Brew Set for Sunday May 6 at the Joe - Charleston RiverDogs
- Game Time Changed on May 27, June 24 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (May 1) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Vasquez Tabbed South Atlantic League Player of Week - Columbia Fireflies
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