WV Power Game Notes
September 2, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
GREENVILLE DRIVE (32-34; 69-66) at WEST VIRGINIA POWER (33-33; 68-67)
Game 136 | September 2, 2016 | Appalachian Power Park | Charleston, WV
Radio: Charleston's ESPN 104.5 & 1490 - wvpower.com Airtime: 6:45 pm
PITCHING MATCH-UP
LH Logan Boyd (13-7, 4.77) vs. RH Bret Helton (8-8, 4.09)
Boyd: Allowed 4 R on 8 H over 5.0 IP w/ 3 K & 2 BB in 8/27 No Decision vs. ASH (8-4 Drive)
Helton: Allowed 4 R on 8 H over 5.0 IP w/ 6 K & 1 BB in 8/27 No Decision vs. LWD (5-4 Power)
LEADING OFF: West Virginia dropped the rubber match to Columbia 4-1 Thursday night. The Power jumped to an early lead in the fourth when Carlos Munoz singled in Mitchell Tolman to give the club a 1-0 advantage. Columbia quickly answered by capturing the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame on a Eudor Garcia two-RBI single. In the sixth, Pat Mazeika padded the Firefly lead with an RBI single, followed by a sacrifice fly by Garcia to increase the margin to 4-1. The Power stranded seven runners overall as they dropped their final road contest of the season. Logan Sendelbach took the loss after surrendering four runs in six innings in his last start of the regular season. Witt Haggard picked up the win, while Jimmy Duff notched the save.
MASS EXODUS: Starting pitcher Mitch Keller, reliever Sean Keselica and utility man Logan Ratledge were all promoted to Bradenton from West Virginia over the course of the last week. As a result, pitchers Scooter Hightower and Matt Frawley were added the roster, and shortstop Alfredo Reyes was activated from the disabled list.
DRIVING THROUGH: The Power finish out the 2016 regular season with a four-game homestand against the Greenville Drive. This is the first matchup between the two clubs since the second series of the season, where West Virginia took two out of three on the road in Greenville. The Power lead the all-time series 33-28.
VACATION'S OVER: West Virginia closes the 2016 regular season road schedule with a record of 31-39 overall. The club hit .231 and knocked 37 of their 80 total home runs away from Appalachian Power Park. The pitching staff finished with an ERA of 3.78 and five total shutouts.
RECORD WATCH: Brian Esposito has an overall record of 155-119 in two seasons as manager of the Power. He's just one win shy of tying the All-Time Charleston South Atlantic League record for most victories set by Mike Guerrero in 2006-2007 with 156 wins. Esposito led West Virginia to 87 wins last season, the most in franchise history.
HANGING ON BY A THREAD: Though the Power have been officially eliminated in the second half, 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 four games behind Lakewood in the second half standings and the Power trail Hickory by 3.5 games for the next best overall record.
SO OVER AUGUST: The Power finished the month of August 16-13 overall, the first time they have finished over .500 in a calendar month since the opening month of the season when they went 15-7. The club hit .249 in August with a staff ERA of 3.34.
POWER POINTS: Mitch Keller was selected as the best right-handed pitcher and the Most Outstanding Pitcher in the 2016 South Atlantic League Annual All-Star Team... Wednesday's game marked the first time in West Virginia Power history that the club had played three consecutive extra inning games... Mitch Keller is tied for third in franchise history for strikeouts in a season with 131 and third best ERA in a season at 2.46... Jacoby Jones became the 56th former Power player to be promoted to the Major Leagues after he was called up by the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh was off Thursday... Indianapolis swept both games of a douleheader, winning each game 4-1. Tyler Glasnow struck out eight and allowed just one run in five and two thirds in the opener... Altoona shutout Binghamton 7-0. Elvis Escobar and Stetson Allie both homered back of three Curve pitchers... Bradenton's game with Fort Meyers was suspended in the fifth inning with the Marauders ahead 2-1... The Black Bears downed Auburn 6-2.
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. Adam Marco will call the action and will be joined by Greg Wong when the team plays at Appalachian Power Park.
South Atlantic League Stories from September 2, 2016
- Tinoco Strong But Tourists Come up Short - Asheville Tourists
- Playoff Bound Claws Clinch Division with 10-4 Win over Greensboro - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Drive Swing Past Power, 8-4 - Greenville Drive
- Crawdads Held to One Hit in 1-0 Loss - Hickory Crawdads
- WV Power Game Report - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Delmarva Wins Ninth Straight Behind Turbin, Mullins Homers - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Back-To-Back Homers Sink Intimidators - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Hermine Stalls GreenJackets and Braves Series Opener - Augusta GreenJackets
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Friday Night's Fireflies Game Postponed Due to Severe Weather - Columbia Fireflies
- Promo Preview: Last Home Games of 2016 Fireworks, Bobblehead - Hickory Crawdads
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