WV Power Game Notes
August 30, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
WEST VIRGINIA POWER (32-31; 67-65) at COLUMBIA FIREFLIES (27-36; 63-70)
Game 133 | August 30, 2016 | Spirit Communications Park | Columbia, SC
Radio: Charleston's ESPN 104.5 & 1490 - wvpower.com Airtime: 6:45 pm
PITCHING MATCH-UP
LH Taylor Hearn (1-1, 2.63) vs. LH Kevin Canelon (6-10, 3.32)
Hearn: Allowed 0 R on 1 H over 2.0 IP w/ 3 K & 3 BB in 8/25 ND vs. LEX (6-4 Legends)
Canelon: Allowed 0 R on 2 H over 7.0 IP w/ 5 K and 0 BB in 8/23 Win @ CSC (5-0 RiverDogs)
LEADING OFF: West Virginia dropped the rubber match to Lakewood 4-3 Sunday afternoon. The 'Claws jumped to a 3-0 advantage after four of the first six batters of the game reached base against Gage Hinsz. The Power got one run back in the third on a sacrifice fly and Logan Hill closed the deficit to one in the fourth with his ninth home run of the season. The 'Claws maintained the one run advantage until the ninth, when the Power evened the game on a Stephen Alemais sacrifice fly. That sent the game into extras where the 'Claws broke the 3-3 tie with a run in the 13th inning when Damek Tomscha singled in the go-ahead run against Seth McGarry. The Power put the first two runners on base in the bottom of the inning, however were unable to drive either of the home as Lakewood closed out the win.
LIGHT'EM UP: The Power play their final road series of the regular season against the Columbia Fireflies before returning home to close out the season with four games against the Greenville Drive. The Power are 7-5 against the Fireflies this season, and captured two of three from the club in the last series from July 1- July 3 in Charleston.
DOWN THE STRETCH THEY GO: The Power open the final week of the season seven games back of first place Lakewood in the South Atlantic League Northern Division. West Virginia's elimination number is down to one, meaning they will be eliminated from second half contention with either a loss or a Lakewood win.
WAIT... THERE'S ANOTHER WAY: Though the Power are close to being out of contention for the second-half title, they still have another opportunity to make the playoffs. If Hagerstown wins the second-half division crown, the team with the next best overall record receives the second playoff berth since the Suns won the first half title as well. Hagerstown is an even 3 games behind Lakewood in the second half standings and the Power trail Hickory by 2.5 games for the next best overall record.
MAKE IT HEARN: West Virginia sends left-hander Taylor Hearn to the mound in game one of the series against Columbia. Hearn is making his second start as a member of the Power after he allowed one hit and one run over three innings in a spot start against Lexington in game two of a double header August 18. Hearn was acquired along with reliever Felipe Rivero by the Pirates on July 29 in a trade with Washington that sent closer Mark Melancon to the Nationals. The Royse, City Texas native is also celebrating his 22nd birthday tonight.
THE BEST OF THE BEST: On Tuesday, the South Atlantic League announced its 2016 Annual All-Star Team, honoring the top players in the league for the season. Mitch Keller was selected as the best right-handed pitcher and the Most Outstanding Pitcher. Keller, a native of Cedar Rapids, IA, was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft and the 20 year-old shined for West Virginia this season, going 8-5 with the league's second-best earned run average to date at 2.46. Keller struck out 131 batters this season and only walked 18 over 23 starts spanning 124 and a third innings pitched. As of Tuesday morning, his 0.92 WHIP was not only the lowest in the South Atlantic League, but also the lowest among qualifiers among all full season teams regardless of level, including Major League Baseball.
POWER POINTS: Mitch Keller is now tied for third in franchise history for strikeouts in a season with 131 and third best ERA in a season at 2.46... Tyler Glasnow holds the strikeout record after he fanned 164 in 2013 and Will Inman holds the ERA title with a 1.71 mark in 2006... After another five shutout frames, Mitch Keller has now thrown 23 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to the first inning of his start on August 6 at Delmarva...
AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh fells to Chicago in extras. The Pirates took a one-run lead in the top of the thirteenth, before the Cubs plated a pair in the bottom of the frame for the walk-off win... Toledo knocked off Indianapolis 8-1... Altoona blew out Binghamton 13-1. Edwin Espinal finished 3-5 with a home run and five RBI... Jupiter edged Bradenton 5-3. Austin Coley dropped to 12-10... Batavia knocked off the Black Bears 7-5.
PROMO UPDATE: On Saturday, September 3, the first 1,000 fans at Appalachian Power Park will receive a Power BBQ Grill Tool Set courtesy of the Charleston Building Trade Council.
ON THE AIR: West Virginia Power games can be heard on Charleston's ESPN Radio 104.5 FM and 1490 AM in Charleston, online at wvpower.com and on the TuneIn Radio App.
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tmp WEST VIRGINIA PO WER GAME NOTES South Atlantic League - Class-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2009 - 601 Morris St. Suite 201- Charleston, WV 25301 - 304-344-2287 - www.wvpower.com West Virginia Power (32-31; 67-65) at columbia fireflies (27-36; 63-70) Game 133 | August 30, 2016 | Spirit Communications Park | Columbia, SC Radio: Charleston's ESPN 104.5 & 1490 - wvpower.com Airtime: 6:45 pm PITCHING MATCH-UP LH Taylor Hearn (1-1, 2.63) vs. LH Kevin Canelon (6-10, 3.32) Hearn: Allowed 0 R on 1 H over 2.0 IP w/ 3 K & 3 BB in 8/25 ND vs. LEX (6-4 Legends) Canelon: Allowed 0 R on 2 H over 7.0 IP w/ 5 K and 0 BB in 8/23 Win @ CSC (5-0 RiverDogs) RESULTS/ SCHEDULE August 16 @ Lexington 13-2 W August 18-1 @ Lexington 12-4 L August 18-2 @ Lexington 2-1 L August 19 @ Kannapolis 4-0 W August 20 @ Kannapolis 4-0 L August 21 @ Kannapolis 5-2 W August 22 @ Kannapolis 5-1 W August 23 Lexington 4-0 W August 24 Lexington 6-4 W August 25 Lexington 6-4 L August 26 Lakewood 4-2 L August 27 Lakewood 5-4 (10) W August 28 Lakewood 4-3 (13) L August 30 @ Columbia 7:05 pm August 31 @ Columbia 7:05 pm September 1 @ Columbia 7:05 pm September 2 Greenville 7:05 pm September 3 Greenville 7:05 pm September 4 Greenville 2:05 pm September 4 Greenville 2:05 pm POWER AT A GLANCE 2016 Quick Records Overall Record: 67-65 Second Half Record: 32-31 Place: T-3 GB: 7.0 Home:
36-29 Away:
30-37 Last 5 2-3 Last 10 6-4 2016 Leaders Batting Avg: Tolman- .269 Home Runs: Polo- 12 RBI: Munoz- 62 Stolen Bases: Reyes- 28 Wins: Three tied w/8 ERA: Keller- 2.46 Strikeouts: Keller- 131 Saves: Eusebio- 11 LEADING OFF: West Virginia dropped the rubber match to Lakewood 4-3 Sunday afternoon. The 'Claws jumped to a 3-0 advantage after four of the first six batters of the game reached base against Gage Hinsz. The Power got one run back in the third on a sacrifice fly and Logan Hill closed the deficit to one in the fourth with his ninth home run of the season. The 'Claws maintained the one run advantage until the ninth, when the Power evened the game on a Stephen Alemais sacrifice fly. That sent the game into extras where the 'Claws broke the 3-3 tie with a run in the 13th inning when Damek Tomscha singled in the go-ahead run against Seth McGarry. The Power put the first two runners on base in the bottom of the inning, however were unable to drive either of the home as Lakewood closed out the win.
LIGHT'EM UP: The Power play their final road series of the regular season against the Columbia Fireflies before returning home to close out the season with four games against the Greenville Drive. The Power are 7-5 against the Fireflies this season, and captured two of three from the club in the last series from July 1- July 3 in Charleston.
August 31 @ Columbia RH Dario Agrazal (7-12, 4.53) vs. RH Andrew Church (5-2, 2.22) September 1 @ Columbia RH Logan Sendelbach (8-7, 3.71) vs. RH Joe Shaw (8-9, 4.46) September 2 Greenville RH Bret Helton (8-8, 4.09) vs. TBA September 3 Greenville RH Gage Hinsz (5-8, 3.77) vs. TBA PITCHING PROBABLES Date Opponent Power Starter vs. Opponent DOWN THE STRETCH THEY GO: The Power open the final week of the season seven games back of first place Lakewood in the South Atlantic League Northern Division. West Virginia's elimination number is down to one, meaning they will be eliminated from second half contention with either a loss or a Lakewood win.
WAIT... THERE'S ANOTHER WAY: Though the Power are close to being out of contention for the second-half title, they still have another opportunity to make the playoffs. If Hagerstown wins the second-half division crown, the team with the next best overall record receives the second playoff berth since the Suns won the first half title as well. Hagerstown is an even 3 games behind Lakewood in the second half standings and the Power trail Hickory by 2.5 games for the next best overall record.
MAKE IT HEARN: West Virginia sends left-hander Taylor Hearn to the mound in game one of the series against Columbia. Hearn is making his second start as a member of the Power after he allowed one hit and one run over three innings in a spot start against Lexington in game two of a double header August 18. Hearn was acquired along with reliever Felipe Rivero by the Pirates on July 29 in a trade with Washington that sent closer Mark Melancon to the Nationals. The Royse, City Texas native is also celebrating his 22nd birthday tonight.
THE BEST OF THE BEST: On Tuesday, the South Atlantic League announced its 2016 Annual All-Star Team, honoring the top players in the league for the season. Mitch Keller was selected as the best right-handed pitcher and the Most Outstanding Pitcher. Keller, a native of Cedar Rapids, IA, was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft and the 20 year-old shined for West Virginia this season, going 8-5 with the league's second-best earned run average to date at 2.46. Keller struck out 131 batters this season and only walked 18 over 23 starts spanning 124 and a third innings pitched. As of Tuesday morning, his 0.92 WHIP was not only the lowest in the South Atlantic League, but also the lowest among qualifiers among all full season teams regardless of level, including Major League Baseball.
POWER POINTS: Mitch Keller is now tied for third in franchise history for strikeouts in a season with 131 and third best ERA in a season at 2.46... Tyler Glasnow holds the strikeout record after he fanned 164 in 2013 and Will Inman holds the ERA title with a 1.71 mark in 2006... After another five shutout frames, Mitch Keller has now thrown 23 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to the first inning of his start on August 6 at Delmarva...
AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh fells to Chicago in extras. The Pirates took a one-run lead in the top of the thirteenth, before the Cubs plated a pair in the bottom of the frame for the walk-off win... Toledo knocked off Indianapolis 8-1... Altoona blew out Binghamton 13-1. Edwin Espinal finished 3-5 with a home run and five RBI... Jupiter edged Bradenton 5-3. Austin Coley dropped to 12-10... Batavia knocked off the Black Bears 7-5.
PROMO UPDATE: On Saturday, September 3, the first 1,000 fans at Appalachian Power Park will receive a Power BBQ Grill Tool Set courtesy of the Charleston Building Trade Council.
ON THE AIR: West Virginia Power games can be heard on Charleston's ESPN Radio 104.5 FM and 1490 AM in Charleston, online at wvpower.com and on the TuneIn Radio App. AVG.
.266 ERA 3.32 G 6 W-L 4-2 AB 200 IP 59.0 H 51 H 52 R 24 R 22 HR 2 ER 21 BB 26 BB 20 SO 48 SO 43 WVP Hitting- WVP Pitching- HOMESTAND STATISTICS
7-5 Date Location Result May 26 Charleston 4-2 L May 27 Charleston 5-4 W (11) May 28 Charleston 12-2 W May 29 Charleston 3-0 W June 9 Columbia 11-2 L June 10 Columbia 4-2 L June 11 Columbia 8-2 L June 12 Columbia 5-2 W June 30 Charleston 4-2 W July 1 Charleston 2-0 L July 2 Charleston 7-6 W July 3 Charleston 4-0 W August 30 Columbia 7:05 pm August 31 Columbia 7:05 pm Sept. 1 Columbia 7:05 pm
All-Time Series vs Savannah Power won 29-25 All-Time SAL Series vs. Fireflies Power lead 7-5 2016 VS. FIREFLIES SB 0 HR 2 2016 Game Notes & Information TONIGHT'S STARTING PITCHER 2016: Placed on West Virginia's roster 8/02... Acquired via trade from Washington on 7/30 in deal that sent reliever Mark Melancon to the Nationals... Went 1-0 with 3.18 ERA in 22 and two thirds innings with Hagerstown prior to the deal... Allowed one run on two hits in Power debut 8/02 @ HAG... Struck out seven across three shutout innings in 8/13 win vs. Delmarva...
2015: Went 1-5 with 3.96 ERA in 12 games and 11 starts between GCL Nationals and Auburn Doubledays,,, Career: Selected in the fifth round by the Washington Nationals in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft from Okla- homa Baptist University... Went 9-0 with 3.50 ERA in 15 games his junior season... Transferred from San Jacincto
South Atlantic League Stories from August 30, 2016
- Fireflies Erase Big Deficit But Fall in Extras - Columbia Fireflies
- WV Power Game Report - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Delmarva Runs Win Streak to Five Games in Greensboro - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Early Damage Costs RiverDogs in 2-0 Shutout Loss to Suns - Charleston RiverDogs
- George's Three-Hit Night Not Enough as Tourists Fall 6 - Asheville Tourists
- Magic Number to Four as BlueClaws Top Kannapolis 3-2 On - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Game Recap: Kan 2, Lwd 3: Call Doubles Twice In Loss At Lakewood - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Fireflies Game Notes: August 30 vs. West Virginia (Game 134) - Columbia Fireflies
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Baltimore Orioles Scout Ellis Dungan to be Inducted into Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame - Charleston RiverDogs
- 2016 Mystery Baseball Night - Augusta GreenJackets
- Greensboro Grasshoppers to Honor Esurance Rising Star Student - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Rodgers Named Most Outstanding MLB Prospect; Mundell League MVP - Asheville Tourists
- RiverDogs First Baseman Chris Gittens, Pitching Coach Justin Pope Among postseason All-Star Honorees - Charleston RiverDogs
- South Atlantic League Announces 2016 Annual All-Star - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- High School Football Coming to Spirit Communications Park - Columbia Fireflies
- Kannapolis Intimidators Fan Experience Feedback - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Shorebirds Release 2017 Schedule - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Tate Matheny and Luis Alexander Basabe - Greenville Drive
- Tobias, Pujols Named to South Atlantic League Post-Season All-Star Team - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Keller Tabbed for SAL Honors - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Fireflies Homestand Highlights - Columbia Fireflies
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