SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

West Virginia Power Game Notes

Published on June 11, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


POWER REPLAY: West Virginia picked up two wins on Friday, taking Thursday's suspended game by a 6-1 final and winning Friday's regularly scheduled game 3-0. Brooks Pounders and Casey Sadler were the winning pitchers as the Power moved a game over .500 for the third time this month.

SAL ALL-STARS: Brandon Cumpton, Dan Grovatt, and Jameson Taillon were selected to represent the Power in the 2011 South Atlantic League All-Star Game in June 21. Cumpton is 6-4 this season with a 5.11 ERA, but steam rolled though May with a 6-0 record and a 1.18 earned run average. Grovatt is batting .297 over 53 games with one home runs and 21 runs batted in. Taillon, the second overall pick in the 2010 draft, is 2-1 with a 3.71 earned run average during his first professional season.

BREAK OUT THE OLD BAY: West Virginia travels to Lakewood today to open a three game series at FirstEnergy Park. The BlueClaws hold the all-time advantage in this match-up with a 47- 34 record against the Power. West Virginia has won 16 times over 34 games on the road in this series. The Power and BlueClaws will meet a total of 19 times this season after playing 16 times last year, and Lakewood already has a 4-2 edge after sweeping a series at Appalachian Power Park from May 20 through 23.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Rogelio Noris hit 15 home runs for West Virginia during the 2010 season and has added five to that total so far this season. Stephen Chapman holds the single-season record with 24, which is also the most by any player during his respective stint with West Virginia. Noris is tied for third all-time in Power history with 19 career home runs, matching Kyle Morgan (2009-10), and trailing only Chapman and Kenny Holmberg (22 home runs over two seasons).

KMAC TO CURVE: Former Power pitcher Kyle McPherson was promoted from Bradenton to Double-A Altoona on Friday and took the loss in his debut last night at Reading. McPherson went 9-9 for West Virginia last season and lead the team in strikeouts. This year, the right-hander was 4-1 for the Marauders with a 2.89 earned run average over 12 starts and had struck out 60 batters over 71.2 innings pitched. During the off-season, Pittsburgh added McPherson to the 40-man roster.

PINPOINT CONTROL: West Virginia pitchers have combined to walk just 124 batters this season, the fewest in the SAL. Power pitchers have also walked the fewest batters in all of professional baseball. Wilmington in the Carolina League has walked the second fewest in pro ball at 135 batters.

SERIES STARTING STRUGGLES: The Power have a combined record of 6-10 in the opening games of their 16 series so far this season. West Virginia is 4-4 on the road in series openers, having taken their series opening wins on May 9 at Charleston, May 25 at Delmarva, June 1 at Lexington, and game one of this set.

POWER POINTS: The Power will make up the May 3 rainout against Greensboro on June 14 at 5:30 pm as part of a doubleheader... Victor Black has not allowed a base hit in any of his first four appearances so far this season, and has only allowed on base runner over six innings of work... Justin Howard has an active 11-game road on-base streak heading into tonight's game... Jameson Taillon has had two of his nine professional starts suspended due to weather (April 27 versus Hagerstown and Thursday).

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh dropped an 8-1 final against the Mets at PNC ... Indianapolis doubled up Buffalo 12-6... Altoona fell 4-0 at Reading... Bradenton lost 5-2 at Jupiter.

ON THE AIR: All 140 West Virginia Power games can be heard on ESPN 104.5 FM and 1490 AM in Charleston, WV, across the state on the Power Radio Network, and online at milb.com. Adam Marco will call the action for each of the 70 home games this season, while the home team will provide coverage while the Power are on the road.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 11, 2011


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