SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

WV Power Game Notes: June 20, 2015 vs. Hickory

Published on June 20, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Hickory Crawdads (43-24) at West Virginia Power (37-31)

Game 69 | June 19, 2015 | Appalachian Power Park | Charleston, WV

Radio: Charleston's ESPN 104.5 & 1490 - wvpower.com Airtime: 6:45 pm

TONIGHT'S MATCH-UP

LHP Yohander Mendez (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Stephen Tarpley (3-2, 3.09)

Mendez: Tossed 3.0 shutout innings with two hits and 4 K in first start of season on 6/14 vs. SAV (8-1 Crawdads)

Tarpley: Surrendered five runs on ten hits over 5.2 IP with 2 BB and 3 K in 6/15 L vs, AUG (5-2 'Jackets)

THE LEAD OFF: West Virginia won a back-and-fourth battle with the Hickory Crawdads, taking the first game of the series with a 6-5 victory. With the Power trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Taylor Gushue started the rally with a routine fly to left that was dropped by Carlos Arroyo. One batter later, Elvis Escobar hit an RBI single to tie the game. The Power eventually loaded the bases for Connor Joe. Joe tapped a ball back to the pitcher, who threw it home but the catcher never touched the plate, allowing Escobar to score to give the Power a 6-5 lead. Nick Neumann entered the ninth inning and worked the Crawdads three-up-three-down to earn his tenth save of the year.

TRANSITION CHAMPIONS: The Power continue the three-game series against the Hickory Crawdads tonight in Charleston. West Virginia is 3-1 against Hickory thanks to the win yesterday and two in Hickory last month. This three-game series marks the only time the Crawdads will visit Appalachian Power Park. Following this series, the Power will visit L.P. Frans Stadium to battle the first-half champions from August 14-16.

TUCK 'N ROLL: West Virginia shortstop Cole Tucker is currently riding a team-best eight game hit streak. Since June 4, Tucker has a .364 batting average (12-for-33). All told, Tucker is hitting .279, good for second-best on the Power team among all qualifying batters. The 18-year-old is hitting .317 this month, his best month of the season. The first overall selection by the Pirates last year, Tucker will turn 19 on July 3.

STILL SOMETHING TO PLAY FOR: With the win yesterday the Power clinched the second-best record in the Northern Division. Despite being eliminated from postseason contention in the first half, the Power can make it into the postseason either by winning the division in the second half outright or by having the second-best overall record in the division should the Crawdads win it again.

VOTE 4 CHASE: Chase Simpson was added to the South Atlantic League's Northern Division squad for Tuesday's All-Star Game at Asheville's McCormick Field. Simpson replaces Carlos Tocci, who was promoted from Lakewood to Clearwater. The Power's Elvis Escobar was originally tabbed as a utility outfielder, but will now start in Tocci's place. Pitchers Yeudy Garcia and Junior Lopez were also selected to participate in the mid-season classic.

KEEP IT TIGHT: Friday's one-run victory for the Power was the 25th one-run game of the season for the team. West Virginia is tied with Augusta for the most one-run games in the South Atlantic League this season. The Power are 10-15 in games decided by a run while the GreenJackets are 13-12. Of the 68 games West Virginia has played, 40 have been decided by two runs or less.

PROMO UPDATE- JUNE 25: The Power open up the second half with Margaritaville Night at Appalachian Power Park. The Buffetman Tom Watt along with his Fruitcakes will be performing a postgame concert for all the fans on Thursday, June 25.

POWER POINTS: West Virginia was knocked out of first half contention with their loss on Monday coupled with Hickory's win...The Power have laid down 48 total sacrifice bunts this season, the most in affiliated baseball... Jerrick Suiter has driven in 14 runs over 23 games since being activated off the Power Disabled List on May 25...Taylor Gushue has 13 passed balls, four shy of Angel Salome's franchise record of 17 in 2006 (76 games)...Austin Coley received a no-decision on Friday night. It was the first no-decision for the right hander in 13 starts.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: A.J. Burnett allowed 14 hits as the Pirates saw their eight-game win streak snapped with a 4-1 loss to Washington...Adrian Sampson hurled seven innings and allowed a run but the Indianapolis Indians were shutout 3-0...Altoona won in ten innings when Adam Frazier was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded...Bradenton is currently off for the FSL All-Star Break...The Black Bears were clobbered 15-7 in their first ever game by the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Pirates first round draft pick Kevin Newman tallied his first professional hit while Tyler Glasnow went 1.1 innings in rehab start.

ON THE AIR: West Virginia Power games can be heard on Charleston's ESPN 104.5 FM and 1490 AM in Charleston, online at wvpower.com and on the TuneIn Radio App. Adam Marco will call the action once again and will be joined by Mike Baggerman when the team plays at Appalachian Power Park.

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