Game #109 Preview — Power at Greensboro
Game #109 — Road Game #51
WV Power (19–23, 56–52) at Greensboro Grasshoppers (20–20, 54–55)
Tuesday, August 7–7:00 p.m.
First National Bank Field (Greensboro, N.C.)
LATE OFFENSE DOWNS POWER IN FINALE: Raul Hernandez went 3-for-4 and Hunter Stratton provided five solid innings on the mound, but the Augusta GreenJackets were able to pull away late and claim a 5–1 win in the series finale over the West Virginia Power Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park. Stratton held the GreenJackets to two runs over his five innings of work, scattering four hits and striking out two while walking three. Augusta scored its first two runs in the top of the second inning on an RBI double from Jacob Gonzalez and a run-scoring single from Logan Baldwin. Drew Fischer and Samuel Reyes held the GreenJackets scoreless over the sixth and seventh innings, each tossing a scoreless frame and allowing one hit apiece. However, Augusta tacked on a run in the eighth against Beau Sulser and two in the ninth on Baldwin’s two-run homer off Matt Seelinger. West Virginia managed to scratch a run across in the bottom of the ninth on a bases-loaded walk to Ryan Peurifoy issued by Camilo Doval, but Keenan Bartlett came on in relief and struck out Ben Bengtson, who represented the tying run at the plate, to end the game.
PITCHING MATCH-UP: RHP Sergio Cubilete (3–4, 4.85 ERA) takes the hill for West Virginia, while Greensboro counters with southpaw Daniel Castano (3–2, 2.13 ERA).
POWER LINEUP:
Lolo Sanchez — CF
Cal Mitchell — RF
Deon Stafford — C
Raul Hernandez — DH
Robbie Glendinning — SS
Ben Bengtson — 3B
Fabricio Macias — LF
Jesse Medrano — 2B
Kyle Watson — 1B
Sergio Cubilete — RHP
ODDS AND ENDS:
STARTING STRONG: Over West Virginia’s last eight games, every starter has gone at least five innings and allowed no more than two runs or six hits. In these last eight starts, the Power’s starting staff has allowed a total of eight runs on 28 hits over 46 innings pitched with 40 strikeouts, good for a 1.57 ERA. West Virginia’s starters have tossed five quality starts over their last eight outings. Here’s a look at their recent performances:
Sunday, July 29 vs. Asheville: Max Kranick — 6 IP, 1H, 0R, 6K
Monday, July 30 at Columbia: Domingo Robles — 7 IP, 4H, 1R, 2K
Tuesday, July 31 at Columbia: Stratton — 5 IP, 3H, 1R, 3K
Wednesday, August 1 at Columbia: Sergio Cubilete — 6 IP, 3H, 1R, 3K
Thursday, August 2 vs. Augusta: Travis MacGregor — 6 IP, 6H, 2R, 3K
Friday, August 3 vs. Augusta: Max Kranick — 6 IP, 3H, 1R, 8K
Saturday, August 4 vs. Augusta: Domingo Robles — 5 IP, 4H, 0R, 3K
Sunday, August 5 vs. Augusta: Stratton — 5 IP, 4H, 2R, 2K
HAMMERIN HERNANDEZ: Since rejoining West Virginia off the disabled list, Hernandez has been a productive member of the club’s lineup. The Power backstop is averaging .364 in 18 games with a home run and 13 RBI, including going 10 for his last 19 in his five August contests thus far. Hernandez has put together three straight multi-hit games, including a three-hit day Sunday, his third three-hit game of the season and eighth multi-hit affair of the year.
ROLLING ROBLES PROMOTED: After spending all of the 2018 with the Power, Robles was promoted to the Advanced-A Bradenton Marauders Monday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced. Robles dominated during his time with West Virginia, especially over his last three outings. After spinning back-to-back quality starts in Kannapolis and Columbia, he held Augusta scoreless over five innings Saturday, whittling his ERA against the GreenJackets down to a miniscule 0.75 mark. Over those last three outings, the Dominican native boasted a 0.94 ERA (2 ER/19 IP). He leaves the Power as their team leader in games started (21), quality starts (11), wins (9), innings pitched (115.0), ERA (2.97) and strikeouts (88). His ERA also ranks second in the Pirates’ system (J.T. Brubaker, 2.85 ERA with Triple-A Indianapolis), while his nine wins are tied with four others for third-highest in the organization. Robles’ 2018 win total equals the amount of wins he accumulated over his first three seasons as a professional.
A FOND FAREWELL: West Virginia Power reliever Matt Seelinger was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for MLB infielder Adeiny Hechavarria. Seelinger had served as the Power’s closer since his promotion to West Virginia April 18. During his time in the South Atlantic League, Seelinger went 1–3 with a 3.03 ERA in 28 appearances out of the bullpen, tossing 32.2 innings while striking out 52 batters to 11 walks and holding hitters to a .236 clip. The Farmingdale State College product also converted all seven of his save opportunities with the Power. Seelinger only allowed an earned run in seven of his 28 relief outings with West Virginia. He also found a way to etch himself into the Power’s record books, becoming just the sixth Power pitcher to record a four-strikeout inning June 27 against Hickory.
POWER POINTS: Fischer, Robbie Glendinning and Kyle Watson turned West Virginia’s 77th double play of the season Sunday, which is tied for the second-lowest mark in the league… Calvin Mitchell picked up his seventh outfield assist of the season, second-most amongst the outfielders to Chris Sharpe (11)… Fischer has been stellar over his last six outings, giving up just two hits over 5.2 scoreless innings of work while striking out 10 batters and walking three.
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. David Kahn and John Kocsis will handle play-by-play duties in 2018. Tuesday’s pregame coverage begins at 6:40 p.m. on the West Virginia Power Baseball Network.
