SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

WV Power Game Notes

Published on April 27, 2013 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


West Virginia Power (9-13) at Savannah Sand Gnats (13-8)

Game 23 | April 27, 2013 | Grayson Stadium | Savannah, GA

Radio: Charleston's ESPN 104.5 & 1490 - wvpower.com Airtime: 5:45 pm

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

LH Orlando Castro (2-1, 1.77) vs. RH Rainy Lara (2-1, 2.70)

Castro: Allowed 2 R on 6 H over 5.0 IP with 3 K and 1 BB in 4/21 Win vs. HAG (11-2 Power)

Lara: Surrendered 4 R on 11 H over 5.1 IP with 2 K and 1 BB in 4/20 Win @ LWD (6-2 Savannah)

THE LEAD OFF: West Virginia lost 4-2 in the series opener at Savannah on Friday evening. Clay Holmes faced nine batters in the first, allowing three runs on three hits, two hit batters, and a walk. The Power responded with two runs in the top of the second on singles by Raul Fortunato and Ashley Ponce. Each team threatened over the remainder of the game, but neither team managed any further runs until the Sand Gnats scored an insurance run in the eighth. Holmes took the loss for the Power while Julian Hilario earned the win.

FREE RIDES: Power pitchers combined to walk eight batters on Friday night, giving the pitching staff 102 this season, tied for second most in the South Atlantic League. Only Delmarva has walk more batters with 103 free passes this season. West Virginia has also hit a league-high 25 batters in 2013, including two last night. Since becoming a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate in 2009, the Power have led the league in hit batters in each season except 2010. Power pitchers hit 124 batters in 2009, 88 in 2010 (third most), 103 in 2011, and 113 last year.

TIME TO SWAT: West Virginia opens a four game series in Savannah tonight. The Power lead the all-time series 20-15 and have gone 8-8 at Grayson Stadium since 2005. These teams will meet nine more times this season including six in the second half, three of which will be played in Charleston.

NO MISTAKES: Friday's loss was the fifth game this season when the Power played error-free baseball. IT was, however, the first time the team lost without committing an error. West Virginia is now 4-1 in games when they don't commit an error. The club has also been charged with multiple errors in 13 games, going 4-9 in those contests.

ON-BASE MOROFF-TEN THAN NOT: Max Moroff walked in the seventh inning on Friday and extended his on-base streak to 18 consecutive games. Only four players in the league have had longer streaks than the Power shortstop, two of which are still active at 20 and 19 games, respectively. Moroff has 15 hits and 17 walks during his last 18 games and has an on-base percentage of .372 during this stretch. Moroff was last held off the bases on Opening Day (April 4 against Asheville).

ROAD WARRIORS: West Virginia's win on Thursday was their sixth on the road during the opening month of the 2013 season. The 2012 edition of the Power won seven road games during the entire first half.

REINFORCING THE PEN: Pittsburgh promoted Thomas Harlan to the Power roster for Thursday's game. Harlan went 2-6 for State College last summer after getting selected in the 13th round from Fresno State during the 2012 draft. The southpaw had 33 strikeouts and 11 walks during 34 and two-thirds innings pitched for the Spikes. David Jagoditsh was transferred to the Jamestown roster in a counter-move. Jagoditsh was 0-3 with an ERA of 11.88 after seven appearances for West Virginia. Harlan did not appear in the series finale at Charleston.

PROMO UPDATE- MAY 18: The Power will host their annual WVU night on May 18 against Lexington. The first 1,000 fans through the gate will receive a Geno Smith bobblehead. All fans will have the chance to meet and greet Kevin Jones, Truck Bryant, and Da'Sean Butler. WVU Night is present by the WV Army National Guard.

POWER POINTS: Josh Bell's seven game hitting streak was snapped by going 0-4 Friday... West Virginia has not won a game this season when scoring fewer than six runs. The Power are now 0-10 when scoring five or less in any game this season... Robbie Grossman made his Major League debut in Wednesday in Houston's 10-3 win over Seattle and is the 30th player to have worn a Power jersey and make it to the Majors.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh lost 9-1 at St. Louis. Jonathan Sanchez took the loss after allowing back-to-back home runs in the first before hitting a batter and getting ejected... Indianapolis beat Lehigh Valley 5-1 for the second straight game...Altoona fell 7-3 to Erie. Casey Sadler allowed one run in each of the first four innings and took the loss... Bradenton lost 5-2 to St. Lucie.

ON THE AIR: West Virginia Power games can be heard on Charleston's ESPN 104.5 FM and 1490 AM in Charleston, WV, and online at wvpower.com. Adam Marco will call the action for all 140 games this season and will be joined by Mike Baggerman when the team plays at Appalachian Power Park.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 27, 2013


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