Game #110 Preview — Power at Greensboro
Game #110 — Road Game #52
WV Power (19–24, 56–53) at Greensboro Grasshoppers (21–20, 55–55)
Wednesday, August 8–7:00 p.m.
First National Bank Field (Greensboro, N.C.)
FIVE-RUN FIRST BURIES POWER IN RAIN-SHORTENED LOSS: Sergio Cubilete allowed five runs in the first inning to the Greensboro Grasshoppers, creating a deficit from which the Power could not climb out of Tuesday evening, as Greensboro rode its big frame to an 8–1, rain-shortened six-inning win in the series opener at First National Bank Field. The Grasshoppers sent 11 men to the plate in the first inning against Cubilete, with Thomas Jones providing the first run-scoring knock with a double. Isael Soto and Will Allen followed with run-scoring singles before Connor Scott worked a bases-loaded walk to cap the inning. Soto tallied another RBI in the fourth with a two-bagger to right before Allen stroked a two-run homer in the fifth that made it 8–0 Greensboro. Deon Stafford recorded the Power’s only run with a solo home run to left field in the sixth. Following the conclusion of the top of the sixth, the game entered a severe weather delay and was ultimately completed early due to heavy rain and lightning. Daniel Castano was credited with a complete game victory for Greensboro after working all six innings and allowing one run on five hits.
PITCHING MATCH-UP: RHP Travis MacGregor (1–4, 3.43 ERA) gets the nod for West Virginia, while Greensboro counters with southpaw Sean Guenther (2–1, 5.20 ERA).
POWER LINEUP:
Lolo Sanchez — CF
Cal Mitchell — RF
Deon Stafford — C
Rodolfo Castro — SS
Robbie Glendinning — 2B
Rafelin Lorenzo — DH
Ryan Peurifoy — LF
Jesse Medrano — 3B
Kyle Watson — 1B
Travis MacGregor — RHP
ODDS AND ENDS:
WELCOME BACK, DEON: Since his return from the disabled list August 4, Stafford has been an instant rejuvenation for West Virginia’s lineup. Stafford is 3-for-9 in his three August contests with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored along with a 1.566 OPS. The Pennsylvania native clubbed his seventh home run of the season Tuesday, fourth-most on the team (Oneil Cruz, 14). West Virginia now has 73 home runs as a team this year, ninth-best in the South Atlantic League (Asheville, 122). Every active Power has at least one home run with the Power this season.
TOUGH TIME ON THE HILL: Cubilete was roughed up Tuesday night one start after recording his first quality start of the season against the Columbia Fireflies. The Grasshoppers tagged him for a career-high nine hits while notching seven earned runs, a total he had not ceded since June 16, 2016, in the DSL. Cubilete struck out five and walked three.
GREETINGS, JOHN: RHP John Pomeroy was added to West Virginia’s active roster this morning from the West Virginia Black Bears. In 15 games in Morgantown this season, Pomeroy went 0–2 with a 4.70 ERA over 15.1 innings pitched. However, he did not allow a run in his final five games that he appeared in with the Black Bears. Pomeroy missed all of last season after he had Tommy John surgery April 19, 2017. He made 23 relief appearances in three seasons at Oregon State and became the sixth Beaver in program history drafted by the Pirates when he was taken in 2016.
RODOLFO RETURNS: INF Rodolfo Castro was activated off the disabled list earlier this morning after spending 10 days on the shelf (dating back to July 29). Castro is averaging .233 with nine homers and 39 RBI in 86 games with the Power this season to go along with five steals in eight tries. Castro’s activation puts the Power’s active roster at 25 men.
ROLLING ROBLES PROMOTED: After spending all of the 2018 with the Power, Domingo 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: Tuesday’s game featured a 56-minute pregame delay as well as a 34-minute in-game delay before being completed early in the sixth inning. West Virginia has now had 33 games affected by weather this season, which is the most in club history (dating back to 2005)… The Power went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position Tuesday.
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. Wednesday’s pregame coverage begins at 6:40 p.m. on the West Virginia Power Baseball Network.
