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Charleston Dirty Birds

West Virginia Power: Game Notes (May 5)

May 5, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


The Power continue their four-game series with Hickory on Saturday, with first pitch at 6:05 p.m. RHP Gavin Wallace (2-0, 4.95 ERA) will start for West Virginia after being activated off the disabled list earlier today.

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POWER OFFENSE SHUT DOWN IN SERIES OPENER: West Virginia's was held to one run on four hits thanks to a stellar outing from A.J. Alexy, who spun six innings and allowed just one hit while striking out a career-best 12 batters, as Hickory took a 5-1, series-opening win on Friday evening at Appalachian Power Park. Calvin Mitchell was the only Power slugger to record a hit against Alexy, as the outfielder slashed a single to right in the sixth inning to snap a streak of 13 straight West Virginia batters retired by the right-hander. Domingo Robles also lasted six innings for the Power, ceding three runs on nine hits while striking out four in his second quality start of the season, but was outdueled by Alexy. Joe Barlow and Alex Speas combined to temper West Virginia over the final three innings, as the Power eked across their only run on a sacrifice fly from Oneil Cruz in the eighth that plated Chris Sharpe. Matt Seelinger pitched the final three innings for West Virginia, surrendering two runs (one earned) on four hits while fanning four.

POWER OUTAGE: For the first time in eight games, the Power were held homerless by an opponent, as Hickory allowed just one extra-base hit, a double by Sharpe in the ninth. Despite not leaving the yard on Friday, West Virginia still has a league-best 29 home runs on the year, the most in the South Atlantic League. Every batter on the roster for West Virginia possesses at least one homer except for Hernandez, who has only played two games for the Power. West Virginia is 2-9 this season when they do not hit a home run in a game.

CRUZIN FOR A BRUISIN: Cruz has started to find a more consistent stroke in the Power lineup of late. The former Dodger is riding a seven-game hitting streak and a nine-game on-base streak, with the latter dating back to April 25 in game two of a doubleheader against Rome. Following the conclusion of game one, Cruz's average sat at .194, but he has boosted that mark to .234 with this seven-game stride where he is averaging .296 (8-for-27) with a home run and five RBI. Cruz currently has the longest active hitting streak on the team, as Deon Stafford's seven-gamer ended Friday.

SHARPE AS A TACK: Since April 18, Sharpe has reached base safely in all 15 games he has played for the Power. The outfielder is tied for the longest on-base streak on the team with Mitchell, who reached base in 15 consecutive contests before seeing his streak end on April 28 in Lexington. During this stretch, Sharpe is averaging .271 (13-for-48) with four RBI and 10 runs scored. Sharpe's 15-game on-base streak is tied for the fourth-longest active on-base streak in the South Atlantic League with Luis Gonzalez (KAN) and Chris Hess (CSC), while Columbia's Jeremy Vasquez leads the way with a 27-game stretch. On the season, The Boston native's .378 on-base percentage leads the team, while his .799 OPS is fifth-best. Sharpe has reached in 22 of the 26 games he has suited up for this season.

PURE JOY FOR PEURIFOY: Since starting the season 0-for-13 through his first four games, Ryan Peurifoy has reached base safely in 12 of his last 13 games, while registering a hit in nine of those contests. Beginning on April 14, the Georgia Tech product is averaging .250 (12-for-48) with three home runs and seven RBI.

THE A "K" ILLES HEEL: Following a Power era-record 21 strikeouts at the plate on Thursday, West Virginia's lineup was set down 15 times via the K in the series opener with Hickory. Over the first four games of this homestand, the Power have struck out 56 times, increasing their season total to a league-high 298 strikeouts. Conversely, West Virginia's pitching staff has fanned 48 batters this homestand, upping their season-long mark to 274, third-highest in the SAL

THE PITCHING MATCHUP: RHP Gavin Wallace (2-0, 4.95 ERA) returns to the Power's rotation after serving a seven-game stint on the disabled list. Wallace makes his second start against Hickory on Saturday after spinning a quality effort on April 13 in Hickory, where he allowed three runs over six innings while striking out five. Hickory sends RHP Jean Casanova (1-1, 2.81 ERA) to the mound in opposition, with the right-hander facing the Power for the second time after ceding five runs (two earned) on five hits over two innings as Wallace's opponent on April 13.

POWER POINTS: Power relievers have held the first batters they have faced in an appearance to a .170 (9-for-53) stroke, with 18 strikeouts... The bullpen has allowed seven earned runs over their last 39.1 innings (1.60 ERA), while striking out 41 batters... The Power have dropped their last two games in which their starter has thrown a quality outing... West Virginia is now 0-8 when scoring two runs or less in 2018... The Power went 0-for-10 with RISP on Friday.

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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