SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

WV Power Game Notes

Published on May 1, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


West Virginia Power (13-7) at Greensboro Grasshoppers (9-11)

Game 21 | May 1, 2015 | NewBridge Bank Park | Greensboro, NC

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

TONIGHT'S MATCH-UP

RH Austin Coley (3-0, 1.80) vs. LH Michael Mader (1-2, 8.80)

Coley: Pitched 5.0 shutout innings in 4/24 Win vs. LEX with 6 K and 1 BB (7-2 Power)

Mader: Pitched 5.0 scoreless innings with 4 K and 1 BB in 4/26 ND @ DEL (1-0 Hoppers)

THE LEAD OFF: West Virginia's game at Hagertsown scheduled for Thursday night was postpned due to inclement weather. The Power and Suns will make up that game in mid-May when West Virginia returns to Municipal Stadium. The Power blanked the Suns 4-0 on Wednesday evening. Dovydas Neverauskas pitched five scoreless, allowing two hits while striking out three and walking two. Yeudy Garcia worked three scoreless and Montana DuRapau pitched a perfect ninth to complete the effort. Taylor Gushue drove in Pablo Reyes in the first and Jeff Roy singled in Chase Simpson in the second to provide early run support. Michael Suchy hit his first home run of the season in the seventh and Jordan Luplow added a sac fly in the eighth to close the scoring.

TOP 20: The Power are off to their best start after 20 games since becoming a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate in 2009. No other club during the first six years of the affiliation had a record over .500 after 20 games, including the 2013 playoff team. West Virginia also notched its first winning record in the month of April since the 2007 season.

ON THE HOP: West Virginia and Greensboro meet for the first of 17 games when they take the field tonight. The Power lead the all-time series 72-67, but momentum has swung the Hopper way since the beginning of the 2009 season. Greensboro leads the series 51-36 since West Virginia became a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate. The Power are 34-36 all-time at NewBridge Bank Park.

STAYING STELLAR: Austin Coley is slated to be promoted back to the Power roster in time to make the start tonight against Greensboro. The right-hander was transferred to the WV Black Bears roster on April 26 after pitching five shutout innings on April 24. A corresponding roster move will need to by made by Pittsburgh to clear a spot.

SUCHY SUCHY NOW: Michael Suchy's home run in the seventh inning on Tuesday was his first this season and second of his career. Suchy's lone home run in the 2014 season was an inside-the-park home run off R.C. Orlan of the Auburn Doubledays on August 25 in game one of a doubleheader. Orlan is now a member of the Suns pitching staff.

NINE TO A DIME: Cole Tucker has West Virginia's longest hitting streak of the season to date. The 18 year-old has hit safely in nine straight with 11 hits over 35 at bats since April 16. The nine game run ranks as the league's second longest current hitting streak this season.

HIS BEST YET: Dovydas Neverauskas earned his first win of the season on Wednesday with five scoreless innings. It marked just the second outing in 31 South Atlantic League appearances when the right-hander did not allow at least one run. Neverauskas pitched five scoreless innings against Delmarva on May 18, 2014, allowing four hits in a win.

DELAYED REACTION: Miguel Rosario's effort in the suspended game was the Power's first complete game of the season and the first since Dovydas Neverauskas's five-inning, rain-shortened complete game against Kannapolis on June 3, 2014. Rosario's April 15 outing is also West Virginia's first quality start this season.

POWER PROMO UPDATE- MAY 9: West Virginia will host Superhero Night on Saturday, May 9 at 7:05 p.m. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive an official West Virginia Power superhero cape. Kids 12 and under will receive free admission if they come to the box office in costume.

POWER POINTS: West Virginia's combined shutout effort was their first of the 2015 season. The 2014 team recorded six shutouts over the entire season... The Power are tied for the fourth-fewest home runs hit this season, but are third in runs scored.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh was idle Thursday and opens a three game series at St. Louis tonight... Indianapolis was bounced 6-2 by Louisville... Altoona had Thursday off and puts Tyler Glasnow on the bump tonight against the Erie SeaWolves... Bradenton lost 9-2 to St. Lucie. Reese McGuire drove in both Marauders runs.

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.

Check out the Charleston Dirty Birds Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from May 1, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central