SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

WV Power Game Notes

Published on August 14, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


West Virginia Power (26-27, 46-75) at Lexington Legends (19-34, 48-75)

Game 122 | August 14, 2014 | Whitaker Bank Ballpark | Lexington, KY

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

TONIGHT'S MATCH-UP

RH Buddy Borden (7-7, 3.16) vs. LH Cody Reed (2-8, 6.00)

Borden: Allowed 0 R on 2 H over 6.0 IP w/ 10 K & 0 BB in 8/09 W @ ASH (10-0 Power)

Reed: Surrendered 1 R on 1 H over 0.2 IP in 8/09 L vs. GVL w/ 1 K & 1 BB (6-4 Drive)

THE LEAD OFF: The Power swept a doubleheader with the Augusta GreenJackets on Wednesday evening at Appalachian Power Park, taking both games by a final of 5-3. With game one tied in the seventh, JaCoby Jones blasted his second home run of the game, a two-run blast to give West Virginia a walk-off victory. In game two, the Power raced out to an early 5-0 lead behind an RBI base knock from Wyatt Mathisen and a two-run blast off the bat of Kawika Emsley-Pai. Henry Hirsch earned the win in game on while Luis Castillo was charged with the loss. Justin Topa picked up the victory in game two as Chase Johnson was charged with the loss and Clario Perez notched the save to give West Virginia its third home series win of the year.

SO, WE MEET AGAIN: The Power have played Lexington more than any other opponent during their nine previous seasons. The cross-division rivals are only two-and-a-half hours apart along I-64 and have played 186 times since the start of the 2005 season. West Virginia leads the all-time series 94-92 with a 4-8 mark against Lexington in 2014.

BEST BUDDY: Power right-hander Buddy Borden was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week on Monday afternoon. It is the second time Borden has claimed the award, with the first on July 14. Borden posted a 2-0 record over two starts, allowing one run en route to a 0.69 ERA with 14 strikeouts and two walks.

TWICE AS NICE: Power outfielder and Pirates 2013 first-round draft pick Austin Meadows was tabbed as the South Atlantic League's Player of the Week on Monday afternoon. Meadows joins Borden for the weekly honor after posting a .480 average over the week with four doubles, two home runs and seven runs batted in.

NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET: JaCoby Jones' pair of home runs on Wednesday were numbers 19 and 20 of the season, placing the shortstop second in a single West Virginia Power season. Two players have hit eighteen in a season: Wily Garcia (2012) and Aaron Baker (2010) . Steffan Wilson (2008) is now third with 19 home runs and Stephen Chapman (2007) holds the record with 24 long balls.

CLOSE CALLS: West Virginia is now 18-26 in one-run games, 7-12 in two-run finals, and 3-13 in games decided by three. Games decided by three runs or less account for 50% of the team's wins and 68% of their losses.

DEFEND THIS HOUSE: With a doubleheader sweep of August on Wednesday night, West Virginia won back-to-back games at home for the first time since June 27 and 28 against the Lakewood BlueClaws. It was also just the third time in 2014 the Power have won consecutive games at Appalachian Power Park and West Virginia's third home series victory.

DEFENSE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME: Power catcher Reese McGuire was recently tabbed as "Best Defensive Catcher in the South Atlantic League" by Baseball America in their latest edition of "Best Tools". McGuire has tossed out a league-best 42 would-be base stealers and leads the league with eight double plays among catchers. The backstop is throwing out base stealers at a 41 percent rate, third-best in the league.

POWER PROMO UPDATE- AUGUST 23: The Power battle the Kannapolis Intimidators on Saturday, August 23 at Appalachian Power Park on for Back to School Night. Backpacks will be given away to the first 1,000 fans 12 and under for the 7:05 first pitch.

POWER POINTS: Before Sunday's game, the Pittsburgh Pirates activated right-hander Justin Topa from the Power Disabled List. To make room for the pitcher, the Pirates placed catcher/left fielder Francisco Diaz on the Power Disabled List.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: The Pittsburgh Pirates fell to Detroit Tigers 8-4. Detroit scored seven runs from the fifth to the seventh inning... Indianapolis fell to Toledo 11-0.... Altoona bested Trenton 4-2. Andy Vasquez went 3-4 with three runs batted in to lead the Cruve... Bradenton's matchup at Jupiter was postponed due to rain...Jamestown's doubleheader with Auburn was postponed as well.

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.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 14, 2014


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