Lakewood BlueClaws (7-7) at West Virginia Power (7-7)
Game 15 | April 20, 2017 | Appalachian Power Park | Charleston, WV
Radio: The Jock 1300 & 1340 - wvpower.com    Airtime: 6:45 P.M.

PITCHING MATCH-UP
LH Ranger Suarez (0-0, 2.16) vs. LH Cam Vieaux (0-0, 1.74)
Suarez: Pitched four shutout innings in 4/14 ND vs. GBO with 7 K and 4 BB (9-0 BlueClaws)
Vieaux: Allowed 1 R on 5 H over 6.0 IP in 4/15 ND @ LEX with 4 K & 1 BB (3-2 Power)

 

LEADING OFF: West Virginia completed a three-game series sweep in Hickory with an 8-5 win over the Crawdads. The Power opened the scoring with two runs in the first and added another on a Stephen Alemais home run in the second; his first long ball of the season. Hickory scored four against Luis Escobar in the bottom of the second inning, including two on a home run by Yeyson Yrizarri. West Virginia regained the lead for good with two in the fifth on a single and an error. Alemais hit his second home run of the night with one down in the sixth before the Power scored once in the eighth and once in the ninth. Hickory plated the game’s final run in the bottom of the ninth before their comeback fizzled. Escobar struck out nine over five and two-thirds for the win.

 

SURGING: Heading into play on Thursday, West Virginia has won six straight and evened its record out at 7-7 after a 6-1 road trip. The Power left Charleston with an offense hitting a league-worst .219 and come back with a league best .286 average, a league-high 17 home runs and 79 runs scored, good enough for third-most in the SAL.

OSUNA RECALLED: On Tuesday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates recalled outfielder Jose Osuna from Triple-A Indianapolis and he made his Major League debut as a pinch hitter last night, grounding into a double play in his only at bat. Osuna played first base for West Virginia in 2012, batting .280 with 16 home runs and 72 runs batted in over 126 games. He becomes the 59th former Power player to reach the Majors and second in the last week. Osuna was recalled when Starling Marte was placed on the restricted list.

 

STREAK SHOW: Ty Moore went 1-4 on Wednesday and extended his hitting streak to nine straight; each game he has played this season. The outfielder’s streak is the longest by a West Virginia Player this season and second longest in the league behind a ten-game run from Rome’s Randy Ventura. Logan Ratledge has hit safely in eight straight while Stephen Alemais and Sandy Santos have both hit safely in six in a row.

 

MATCH GAME: The 19 runs scored matched the most by West Virginia in a single game during the Pirates affiliation, which dates back to 2009. The Power plated 19 in a game at Appalachian Power Park on June 1, 2016, against the Lakewood BlueClaws. The Brewers-affiliated Power scored a franchise record 24 runs in a game against the then-Pittsburgh affiliated Crawdads on June 12, 2007, in Hickory.

 

BRING ON THE BLUECLAWS: West Virginia opens its first of three 2017 series against Lakewood this evening. The Power hold the all-time series lead with 95 wins over 178 games and have gone 57-44 at Appalachian Power Park. This set marks the only first half meeting between the divisional opponents. West Virginia and Lakewood play six times during the final four weeks of the season.

 

POWER POINTS: 22 hits by West Virginia is a new single-game high for any game during the Pittsburgh Pirates era in West Virginia. Prior to Monday, the club’s high water mark was 21 hits, done twice, but not since 2012. It also ties for third most in a single Power game since 2005... Seven different Power batters had multiple hits on Monday night, seven scored multiple runs and seven drove in at least two runs.... Shane Carle was recalled by the Colorado Rockies on Friday and optioned out on Monday without appearing in a Major League game. Carle pitched for the Power in 2014 and was traded to Colorado after the season...

 

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh fell 2-1 to St. Louis again on Wednesday, the third straight 2-1 loss to the Cardinals as the completed a series sweep... Indianapolis held off Durham 8-5. Max Moroff hit his fifth home run of the season... Altoona pounded Erie 8-3. Sean Keselica earned the win backing JT Brubaker... Clearwater slipped past Bradenton 3-2. Mitch Keller allowed two runs and took the loss.

 

PROMO PREVIEW: On Saturday, April 22, the first 1,000 fans through the gate at Appalachian Power Park will receive a 97.5 WQBE Rabbit bobblehead giveaway. Gates will open at 1:00 P.M. for the 2:05 game against the Lakewood BlueClaws.

 

ON THE AIR: West Virginia Power games can be heard on The Jock 1300 & 1340 AM in the Kanawha Valley, online at wvpower.com and on the TuneIn Radio App. Adam Marco will call the action and will be joined by Steve Granado when the team plays at Appalachian Power Park.

 

Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame

Seeks Nominations

Committee solicits nominations from the public by May 19

 

CHARLESTON, SC – The Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame once again is seeking nominations for the Class of 2017.

 

The Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame is located inside Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park, and since its inaugural Class of 2003, has inducted 44 former players, teams, coaches, broadcasters, executives, and more that have been instrumental in the development of the game in the city of Charleston.

 

An advisory committee consisting of knowledgeable and local volunteers was created to come up with names as potential nominees.  Fans select via ballot three candidates while the committee selects two.  Ballots will be available online at www.riverdogs.com and at Riley Park during RiverDogs home games. Once an individual or team has been nominated, there is no need to re-submit.

 

The maximum of three individuals/teams that receive the most votes will be inducted into the Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame during ceremonies prior to the Friday, August 4 RiverDogs game against the Greenville Drive at 7:05pm.

 

Originally designed for professional players who played for local professional teams, the Hall of Fame 11 years ago was adjusted to include amateurs and teams, in addition to those who played in the major leagues.

 

The Class of 2016 included local broadcaster Ted Byrne, College of Charleston standouts Chris Campbell and Nick Chigges, former mayor Joe Riley, Jr., and legendary promoter Mike Veeck.

 

To nominate an individual or a team for consideration in 2017, please forward appropriate support information to The Charleston Baseball Hall of Fame, c/o Charleston RiverDogs, PO Box 20849, Charleston, SC  29413.  The deadline for submissions is May 19.

RiverDogs tickets, including options for the all-new Riley Park Club, are now available and can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com. Those that can’t make it to the park can follow every pitch of the RiverDogs season on WTMA 1250 AM in the tri-county area or by streaming online at riverdogs.com and the TuneIn Radio App by searching “RiverDogs.”

CHARLESTON BASEBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

 

2016 – Ted Byrne

            Chris Campbell

            Nick Chigges

            Joe Riley, Jr.

            Mike Veeck

 

2015 – Pete Ayoub

            John Chalus

            Lee Curtis

 

2014 – Reese Havens

            David Hoffman

            Billy Swails, Jr.

 

2013 – Steven Jackson

Drew Meyer

            Britt Reames

 

2012 – Gettys Glaze

            Tom Hatley

            John Rhodes

 

2011 – Bill Ackerman

            Roberto Alomar

            Mike Kimbrell

 

2010 – Lee Glaze

Fred Jordan

D.K. Walters

Kenny Wilkinson

 

2009 – John Dodds, Jr.

            W.S. “Bull” Durham

            Donald Morillo

            Doug Pounder

 

2008 – Bryce Florie

            Danny Jones

            Charley Smith

            Richard Wieters

 

2007 – 1955 Cannon Street YMCA All-Star Team

            1990 Citadel World Series Team

            Anthony Jenkins

Modie Risher

 

2006 – Ty Cline

            Mike Cook

            Gary McJunkin

            Chal Port

 

2005 – John Candelaria

 

2004 – David Cone

 

2003 – Willie Randolph

Gorman Thomas

West Virginia Power (6-7) at Hickory Crawdads (5-8)
Game 14 | April 19, 2017 | L.P. Frans Stadium | Hickory, NC
Radio: The Jock 1300 & 1340 - wvpower.com     Airtime: 5:45 P.M.

 

PITCHING MATCH-UP
RH Luis Escobar (1-0, 1.64) vs. RH Jonathan Hernandez (0-1, 6.00)
Escobar: Allowed 1 R on 5 H over 6.0 IP in 4/14 Win @ LEX w/ 11 K and 0 BB (5-1 Power)
Hernandez: Allowed 1 R on 3 H over 4.0 IP in 4/12 ND @ COL w/ 6 K & 1 BB (4-2 Crawdads)

 

LEADING OFF: West Virginia topped Hickory 8-3 on Tuesday evening. After three innings of scoreless ball, the Power broke through with a run in the fourth when Stephen Alemais tripled and scored on a Demarcus Evans wild pitch. West Virginia added three in the fifth on a Hunter Owen single and Carlos Munoz’s two-run home run. After the Crawdads broke up the shutout without a hit in the bottom of the fifth, West Virginia scored four more for an 8-1 lead in the sixth. Sandy Santos, Logan Ratledge, Ty Moore and Munoz each drove in one to extend the lead. Hickory plated one in the sixth and one in the seventh to close the gap, but would not score again. Blake Cederlind earned the win and Evans was charged with the loss as the Power clinched the series with one game to go.

 

SURGING: Over the first ten games of the season, the Power scored 31 runs and held a 3-7 record. Over the last three games, the club has scored 40 times. No Pirates-affiliated Power club has scored more runs in a three-game stretch than the 2017 edition over the last three days. The previous high was 31 during the 2009 season.

 

OSUNA RECALLED: On Tuesday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates recalled outfielder Jose Osuna from Triple-A Indianapolis and he made his Major League debut as a pinch hitter last night, grounding into a double play in his only at bat. Osuna played first base for West Virginia in 2012, batting .280 with 16 home runs and 72 runs batted in over 126 games. He becomes the 59th former Power player to reach the Majors and second in the last five days. Osuna was recalled when Starling Marte was placed on the restricted list.

 

MATCH GAME: The 19 runs scored matched the most by West Virginia in a single game during the Pirates affiliation, which dates back to 2009. The Power plated 19 in a game at Appalachian Power Park on June 1, 2016, against the Lakewood BlueClaws. The Brewers-affiliated Power scored a franchise record 24 runs in a game against the then-Pittsburgh affiliated Crawdads on June 12, 2007, in Hickory.

 

ALL-TIME HIGH: 22 hits by West Virginia is a new single-game high for any game during the Pittsburgh Pirates era in West Virginia. Prior to Monday, the club’s high water mark was 21 hits, done twice, but not since 2012. It also ties for third most in a single Power game since 2005.

 

FAMILIAR TERRITORY: West Virginia continues its only 2017 series in Hickory this evening. The Crawdads lead the all-time set 60-58 and hold the edge at L.P. Frans Stadium 35-27. Pittsburgh was affiliated with Hickory from 1999 to 2008 and 27 of the Power’s wins in the all-time series came as a Brewers affiliate against the Pirates club from 2005 through 2008.

 

POWER POINTS: Seven different Power batters had multiple hits on Monday night, seven scored multiple runs and seven drove in at least two runs.... Willy Garcia was called up on Friday by the Chicago White Sox and made his Major League debut against the Minnesota Twins. The outfielder is the 58th former Power player to reach the Majors and the first this season... Shane Carle was recalled by the Colorado Rockies on Friday and optioned out on Monday without appearing in a Major League game. Carle pitched for the Power in 2014 and was traded to Colorado after the season... Starling Marte was removed from candidacy for the Charleston Baseball Wall of Fame induction voting on Tuesday after his suspension for performance enhancing drug use.

 

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh lost its second straight 2-1 final at St. Louis. The Buccos lost despite out-hitting the Cardinals 11-4... Indianapolis lost 6-5 to Durham in 11 innings. Joey Terdoslavich drove in three in defeat... Altoona doubled up Erie 6-3. Tate Scioneaux earned the win in relief of Alex McRae... Bradenton lost 4-2 to Clearwater.

 

PROMO PREVIEW: On Saturday, April 22, the first 1,000 fans through the gate at Appalachian Power Park will receive a 97.5 WQBE Rabbit bobblehead giveaway. Gates will open at 1:00 P.M. for the 2:05 game against the Lakewood BlueClaws.

 

ON THE AIR: West Virginia Power games can be heard on The Jock 1300 & 1340 AM in the Kanawha Valley, online at wvpower.com and on the TuneIn Radio App. Adam Marco will call the action and will be joined by Steve Granado when the team plays at Appalachian Power Park.

 

Comeback Falls Short as RiverDogs Drop Rubber Match in Augusta

Charleston drops two in a row for the first time as Augusta steals finale of road trip

 

AUGUSTA, GA– First baseman Brandon Wagner went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the fifth that brought Charleston within two, but the RiverDogs dropped their second in a row by a 5-3 final to Augusta to end their first road trip of the season at Lake Olmstead Stadium on Wednesday.

Charleston’s defense committed a season-high five errors to run their league-leading total up to 33 on the year through 14 games. The RiverDogs (8-6) finish out the weeklong stint away from The Joe going 3-4.

 

Up early for a 10:35am first pitch on Education Day at the park, Charleston found themselves behind in an early hole when Augusta (5-9) scratched out a run in the second on a two-out RBI knock by former Coastal Carolina product Anthony Marks who drove in two on the day including a run-scoring single in the second.

 

The RiverDogs wasted no time tying this up by plating a run in the third. After Diego Castillo and Estevan Florial drew walks back-to-back to lead off, Hoy Park struck out and Angel Aguilar stroked a single to left to drive in his team-leading 11^th of the season that evened it at one apiece.

 

Augusta reclaimed the lead in the third, taking advantage of three RiverDogs errors to score a pair. Second baseman Kelvin Beltre reached on a routine roller to short and was driven in two batters later by first baseman Frandy De la Rosa who doubled to dead center to give the GreenJackets a 2-1 lead. After Manuel Geraldo flew out, Brandon Van Horn hit a chopper to second that was misplayed by Park who then fired it wide of first for a pair of errors that made it 3-1 Augusta.

 

In the fourth, Augusta stretched out to their biggest lead of the game, 5-1. Ashford Fulmer’s infield single was extended by a throwing error by Charleston’s starter, Freicer Perez, on a bunt attempt, and the Augusta left fielder would eventually score on a sac fly from Marks. Skyler Ewing made it a four-run lead later in the inning with a run-scoring triple launched to deep left-center.

 

Perez (0-1) went four innings before being relieved by Phillip Diehl. The lanky right-hander allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks to take the loss. Diehl kept Charleston in the ballgame by turning in four shutout innings to lower his ERA to 3.00.

 

The RiverDogs made it a two-run ballgame in the fifth when Wagner drove in one on a base hit to right-center that was mishandled for a fielding error on Fabian to allow a second run to score, but Charleston’s rally would come up short.

 

The Hopewell, N.J. native, Wagner, is now hitting .317 (11-for-37) on the season after collecting a hit in nine of his first 11 games with Charleston.

Right-hander Jose Morel (1-0) worked 2.1 innings out of the bullpen, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits to pick up the win for Augusta who took the final two games of the series.

 

Upcoming

The RiverDogs return home for a four-game homestand at The Joe, taking on Asheville from April 20-23 starting on Thursday night. The RiverDogs will send out RHP Jio Orozco (0-1, 7.27) who will be opposed by Tourists RHP Alejandro Requena (0-0, 0.73) with the first pitch slated for 7:05pm.

 

The game will be broadcast on WTMA 1250 AM as well as online streaming on riverdogs.com and the TuneIn Radio app under the “Charleston RiverDogs” station. It’s “Legalize Marinara” Night at The Joe as the RiverDogs haul in over 100 gallons of the substance to the ballpark for a night of poignant debate and sudden hunger. The first 500 fans through the gate will receive a bag of oregano if they can file past the waves of protestors.

RiverDogs Let Early Lead Slip in Loss to Augusta

Kelvin Beltre drives in two to rally GreenJackets past Charleston

 

AUGUSTA, GA– For the first time this season, the RiverDogs let a lead slip as the Augusta GreenJackets rallied to score three unanswered runs to take game two, 3-2, and even up the series with Charleston on Tuesday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

 

GreenJackets (4-9) designated hitter Kelvin Beltre was a thorn in the side of the RiverDogs (8-5) all night long. The No. 20 prospect in the Giants farm system went 2-for-2, reached base three times including a triple, and drove in both the tying and go-ahead runs in the ballgame.

 

The RiverDogs took a 2-0 lead to start, first adding a single tally in the opening frame. Diego Castillo reached on an error by third baseman Manuel Geraldo, moved up on a double by center fielder Estevan Florial, and scored as Angel Aguilar grounded out to short to collect his 10^th RBI of the season to match the team high.

 

In the fourth, first baseman Brandon Wagner drew a one out walk and right fielder Isiah Gilliam brought him home on the next play with a double ripped to right to put Charleston out to a 2-0 lead.

RiverDogs starter Albert Abreu rolled through his first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth and fifth. Save for a triple that nearly left the park off the bat of Beltre in the first, he faced the minimum through three before hitting a batter and walking the next to put two on with nobody out. Abreu would weasel out of the jam, but couldn’t duplicate the feat in the following frame after second baseman Frandy De la Rosa singled and catcher Zach Bowers was hit by a pitch to put two on with nobody out for the second consecutive inning. A double play on the next play nearly got the right-hander out Scott free, but former Coastal Carolina outfielder Anthony Marks followed with base hit to right and a wild pitch on strikeout forced in the first run for Augusta. Beltre pulled the GreenJackets even with an RBI single to left field.

 

In the seventh, Beltre again did the damage, bringing home a leadoff walk, Brandon Van Horn, on a sacrifice fly to right field that gave Augusta a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish.

David Sosebee (0-1) pitched well, but took the loss. The former Georgia Bulldog turned in three innings, allowing one run, with three strikeouts and a walk.

 

GreenJackets lefty Cameron Avila-Leeper (1-1) turned in three shutout innings out of the pen to earn the win. Charleston had won all eight previous games they held a lead in and were 3-0 after scoring first.

 

Upcoming

The RiverDogs finish out the series with Augusta in a Wednesday morning contest on Education Day at Lake Olmstead Stadium. Charleston will send RHP Freicer Perez (0-0, 8.44) to the toe the rubber against Augusta RHP D.J. Myers (0-2, 6.48). First pitch is set for 10:35am. The game will be broadcast exclusively online at riverdogs.com and the TuneIn Radio app under the “Charleston RiverDogs” station. The RiverDogs return home for a four-game series against Asheville from April 20-23 at The Joe.

SHOREBIRDS WALLOP HOPPERS TO CLINCH FIRST SERIES
Delmarva scores nine unanswered in middle innings for 13-3 win

SALISBURY, MD - In their largest win by margin of the season, the Delmarva Shorebirds used nine unanswered runs to bury the Greensboro Grasshoppers 13-3 on Tuesday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

The Shorebirds (6-7) struck early for the second consecutive night, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Ryan McKenna led off with a walk and went to second on a balk. Chris Clare singed him to third, and Collin Woody’s sac fly plated McKenna. Cole Billingsley followed with a single of his own to score Clare and make it 2-0.

The Grasshoppers (7-6) struck back immediately as Branden Berry slashed a two-run homer to left to tie it. Delmarva countered with two more in the bottom of the second as Alejandro Juvier scored on a pair of wild pitches and Jake Ring tallied his league-leading 16th RBI on a two-out single. Justin Twine’s sac fly in the top of the third got Greensboro within one at 4-3, but Delmarva would turn on the jets soon after.

Daniel Fajardo cranked his first home run of the season, a leadoff scorcher down the left field line, to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. In the fifth, the Shorebirds loaded the bases with nobody out, but could only manage one run on Alejandro Juvier’s sac fly to make it 6-3.

Delmarva would not waste another opportunity like that, loading the bases again with nobody out in the sixth. Clare rolled a cue ball down the first base line that ate up Colby Lusignan, bringing home a run on an error. Woody followed with a bloop single to left, scoring two. After a lineout and a pitching change, Preston Palmeiro made it a five-spot in the inning, shooting a double over the fist base bag and into the corner to score two and make it 11-3.

The Shorebirds upped their lead into double digits in the bottom of the seventh as Woody and Billingsley notched back-to-back two-out RBI singles.

Woody led the way at the plate for the ‘Birds, going 2-for-2 with a run and four RBIs. He was also hit by the pitch twice, upping his SAL-leading total to seven. Clare finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and four runs.

McKenna went 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored. He saved the game defensively for the Shorebirds with two on in the top of the fourth, robbing Jarett Rindfleisch of extra bases with a dead-sprint, backhanded, over-the-shoulder catch in left center.

Francisco Jiménez (2-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Matthias Dietz, who allowed three runs in a career-best four innings. Jiménez tossed three scoreless no-hit innings, walking two and striking out one. Jake Bray handled the final two innings, allowing one hit and striking out five for the win.

Alex Mateo (0-2) took the loss for Greensboro, his second in as many starts against Delmarva, giving up six runs on seven hits in four-plus innings.

With a series win in their pockets, the Shorebirds go for the series sweep against the Grasshoppers on Wednesday night. Lefty Travis Seabrooke (1-1, 6.35) faces righthander Dustin Beggs (1-1, 3.00). First pitch is 7:05 p.m. with gates opening an hour before first pitch. Wednesday is the first Silver Sluggers game of the season, presented by Coastal Home Care. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports AM 960 and the MiLB First Pitch app begins at 6:50 p.m. with Will DeBoer on the call.

Delmarva Shorebirds
----------------------------
The Delmarva Shorebirds are the Class “A” Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Shorebirds are owned by 7th Inning Stretch, LLC, the same company that owns the Stockton Ports of the California League and the Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League.

The Shorebirds are celebrating their 22nd season in 2017 and have entertained nearly five million fans since beginning play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland in 1996. The team captured South Atlantic League titles in 1997 and 2000 and successfully hosted the South Atlantic League All-Star Game in 1999 and 2011.

West Virginia Power (5-7) at Hickory Crawdads (5-7)
Game 13 | April 18, 2017 | L.P. Frans Stadium | Hickory, NC
Radio: The Jock 1300 & 1340 - wvpower.com      Airtime: 5:45 P.M.
PITCHING MATCH-UP
LH Oddy Nunez (0-2, 10.50) vs. RH Demarcus Evans (0-1, 6.00)
Nunez: Surrendered 6 R (2 ER) on 9 H over 3.0 IP in 4/13 Loss @ LEX w/ 3 K (14-5 Legends)
Evans: Pitched two innings of scoreless relief on 4/11 @ COL w/ 4 K & 2 BB (5-1 Crawdads)

 

LEADING OFF: West Virginia hammered Hickory 19-3 on Monday night. The Crawdads took a 1-0 lead in the first, but the Power answered with two-run home runs by Arden Pabst and Logan Ratledge in the second for a 4-1 edge. That advantage was extended to eight runs in the third on a bases loaded walk and an Alexis Bastardo grand slam; the first of his career. West Virginia scored two in the fourth, one in the fifth and added two more in the sixth on a Sandy Santos home run. After Hickory plated two in the bottom of the sixth, the Power slammed the door with five more runs in the eighth, including a bases loaded double by Carlos Munoz. James Marvel earned his first win with five innings of work. Argenis Rodriguez took the loss for the Crawdads after surrendering the first eight runs.

 

7-7-7: Seven different Power batters had multiple hits on Monday night, seven scored multiple runs and seven drove in at least two runs. All nine players had at least one hit for the second straight day and third time during the Power’s four game winning streak.

 

MATCH GAME: The 19 runs scored matched the most by West Virginia in a single game during the Pirates affiliation, which dates back to 2009. The Power plated 19 in a game at Appalachian Power Park on June 1, 2016, against the Lakewood BlueClaws. The Brewers-affiliated Power scored a franchise record 24 runs in a game against the then-Pittsburgh affiliated Crawdads on June 12, 2007, in Hickory.

 

RISING TO THE TOP: Since the road trip began on Thursday, the Power are batting .354 and have raised their team average from last in the league at .219 to third at .281. The team has also hit 10 home runs during the five game stretch.

 

ALL-TIME HIGH: 22 hits by West Virginia is a new single-game high for any game during the Pittsburgh Pirates era in West Virginia. Prior to Monday, the club’s high water mark was 21 hits, done twice, but not since 2012. It also ties for third most in a single Power game since 2005.

 

FAMILIAR TERRITORY: West Virginia continues its only 2017 series in Hickory this evening. The Crawdads lead the all-time set 60-58 and hold the edge at L.P. Frans Stadium 35-27. Pittsburgh was affiliated with Hickory from 1999 to 2008 and 27 of the Power’s wins in the all-time series came as a Brewers affiliate against the Pirates club from 2005 through 2008.

 

DIVISION RIVALS? West Virginia plays 59 games against fellow South Atlantic League Northern Division opponents this season and 81 against teams from the Southern Division. The next six games are all against Northern Division opponents; two more in Hickory and four at home against Lakewood. West Virginia only plays 24 of 70 first half games against teams from their own division.

 

POWER POINTS: Kevin Mahala was the only Power player who had seen action in all 11 games this season before getting Monday off... Willy Garcia was called up on Friday by the Chicago White Sox and made his Major League debut against the Minnesota Twins. The outfielder is the 58th former Power player to reach the Majors and the first this season... Shane Carle was recalled by the Colorado Rockies on Friday, but has yet to make his Major League debut. Carle was initially picked by the Pirates in the 10th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft and pitched for West Virginia in 2014.

 

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh’s three game winning streak was snapped with a 2-1 loss at St. Louis. Gregory Polanco’s pinch hit double in the eighth drive in the Pirates only run... Indianapolis was idle on Monday and hosts Durham tonight... Altoona lost 7-1 against Erie. Yeudy Garcia allowed the first five runs and took the loss... Bradenton snapped its three-game slide with a 5-1 win over Clearwater. Mitchell Tolman drove in a pair.

 

PROMO PREVIEW: On Saturday, April 22, the first 1,000 fans through the gate at Appalachian Power Park will receive a 97.5 WQBE Rabbit bobblehead giveaway. Gates will open at 1:00 P.M. for the 2:05 game.

 

ON THE AIR: West Virginia Power games can be heard on The Jock 1300 & 1340 AM in the Kanawha Valley, online at wvpower.com and on the TuneIn Radio App. Adam Marco will call the action and will be joined by Steve Granado when the team plays at Appalachian Power Park.