Link Report for Wed. 4/18 - Latest: Update on the Power

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Chris Oxspring at Oklahoma (Rangers), 10:45 AM pre-game; 11:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Adam Pettyjohn at home vs. Jacksonville (Dodgers), 10:20 AM pre-game; 10:35 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Will Inman at Jupiter (Marlins), 6:05 PM

 

From Scott Pinner of the 'Tees:

The Manatees game tonight will be broadcast on ESPN Radio Space Coast WIXC AM 1060. The normal web stream of the game through manateesbaseball.com will not be available, but those lstening on the world wide web can still get the game at www.espnflorida.com. Just click the listen live link on their website. The webcast will be available through the radio stations on line stream. This is in cooperation with the radio station to expose more listeners to WIXC and it's programming options.

 

Audio link (choose 1060):

www.espnflorida.com/

 

West Virginia: LHP Brae Wright at home vs. Greensboro (Marlins), 6:05 PM gametime

 

Audio link (game will also archive at this link):

www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2007041730

 

Power home, hoping for better weather

By Mike Whiteford

Charleston Gazette Staff Writer

 

Early April?s combination of snow and rain produced only a moderate chill at the West Virginia Power box office.

 

Even as players performed in swirling snowflakes and fans generally stayed away, the Power?s advanced ticket sales kept the overall numbers within shouting distance of respectability.

 

In the team?s initial homestand, paid attendance averaged 2,028 for five openings at Appalachian Power Park, though many of the ticket-holders surrendered to the weather and did not attend. Last year, the team averaged nearly 3,500 for the full season.

 

?Traditionally, April games aren?t big draws anyway,?? said Power general manager Ryan Gates. ?We?ve got a lot of games left, and we?ve got a lot up our sleeves promotionally.??

 

Amid forecasts of 60-degree temperatures and a solid on-the-field start, the Power (6-3) will open a seven-game homestand beginning at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central) against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. After three games with the Grasshoppers, the Power will face the Hickory Crawdads Saturday through Tuesday.

 

In addition to the less-than-expected attendance for the season?s first homestand, the weather also brought two postponements ? one for snow, the other for rain ? forcing the Power to play two doubleheaders.

 

?Last year we had good weather for that first Thursday, Friday and Saturday,?? said Gates. ?This year, it was cold opening day [Thursday, April 5], we got snowed out on Friday and we played that doubleheader in the snowy wind-chill of 15 degrees on Saturday.??

 

On April 6, the Power and Lake County Captains started the game but played just two innings before play was suspended because of blinding snow. The following night, paid attendance was 1,127, but only about 200 fans attended.

 

When the weather warmed up somewhat Tuesday April 10, the paid crowd was 2,129 for the Power-Lakewood game and, after a rainout the following night, the team completed the homestand with a twin bill that drew a paid crowd of 2,241.

 

Gates was pleased with last week?s Tuesday and Thursday attendance.

 

?When we saw a little break in the weather on that Tuesday and Thursday,?? he said, ?you saw the people out here. They were bundled up, but you felt they were eager to get back out here.??

 

POWER POINTS: Tonight, the Power will wear pink jerseys to promote the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a 5-kilometer race May 5 to raise funds for breast cancer research. The team held a Komen promotion April 7, but snow fell and only about 200 fans attended. ... Power infielder Jimmy Mojica, who did not start the team?s first two games of the season, is hitting .348 with two home runs in 23 at-bats. ... Left-hander Brae Wright, the Power?s opening-night starter, will pitch tonight. The former University of Mississippi and Oklahoma State pitcher is 0-0 with a 2.89 earned run average.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Log". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often.

 

Nashville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_jupafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

These links will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally they are updated an hour or two prior to gametime, with Nashville's usually earlier:

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

 

Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Tuesday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 6 6 .500 - 3-2 3-4 L2 Nashville 6 6 .500 - 3-4 3-2 L2 Memphis 6 7 .462 0.5 5-3 1-4 L1 Omaha 5 8 .385 1.5 3-2 2-6 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 5 5 .500 - 3-4 2-1 W1 Tennessee 5 5 .500 - 1-2 4-3 W3 Chattanooga 5 7 .417 1.0 3-4 2-3 L3 Carolina 4 8 .333 2.0 2-0 2-8 W2 West Tenn 4 8 .333 2.0 0-2 4-6 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 7 5 .583 - 5-2 2-3 W3 Jupiter 7 5 .583 - 2-2 5-3 W1 Palm Beach 6 5 .545 0.5 3-4 3-1 W3 St. Lucie 6 5 .545 0.5 2-3 4-2 L3 Brevard County 5 6 .455 1.5 2-4 3-2 L1 Vero Beach 3 8 .273 3.5 2-3 1-5 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greensboro 8 3 .727 - 6-2 2-1 W1 West Virginia 6 3 .667 1.0 4-3 2-0 W4 Lexington 7 5 .583 1.5 5-3 2-2 W1 Hickory 5 4 .556 2.0 2-3 3-1 L2 Lakewood 4 4 .500 2.5 1-2 3-2 W1 Lake County 4 7 .364 4.0 2-2 2-5 L1 Hagerstown 4 8 .333 4.5 1-3 3-5 L1 Delmarva 3 7 .300 4.5 0-2 3-5 L2

[Mass Haas]

The Suns score two in the top of the ninth to tie Huntsville at 4-4.

 

Heading to the bottom of the ninth as of 1:20 Central -- tune in!

 

mmslb.eonstreams.com/wump.asf

[pogokat]

Ryan Braun has 5 hr's, 5 2b's, and 3 singles....holy crap

[Mass Haas]

Walk off wild pitch! Or passed ball (waiting on ruling).

 

Stars win, 5-4!

 

UPDATE: It was a wild pitch...

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Second Baseman Callix Crabbe:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-18.mp3

 

Nashville's audio "Play of the Game" highlights haven't always been available immediately during the Link Report overnight. You can catch up on those you've missed here:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/l...lights.asp

[DHonks]

what's silly is that I think Inman has been thriving away from Brevard County's pitcher friendly yard. I wonder if his goal this year is to do something he failed at last year...keeping his ERA below 1.00

[Kevbo74]

Quote:

---

I wonder if his goal this year is to do something he failed at last year...keeping his ERA below 1.00

---

 

I think his goal is to finally get a baseball card from bowman chrome :-) at least I hope it is. Great job so far, hope the K's keep coming, and that ERA is safe for another day..

can I call it a .500 season now? This team is pretty fun to listen to this year.

[jackalope02ca]

I know it's early but if Inman keeps this up he'll force a move up the ladder. Man have we got some great pitching on the way.

[Team Canada]

Ryan Braun has 5 hr's, 5 2b's, and 3 singles....holy crap

 

Make that 6 2b's. Singles are for suckers.

[MrBoozer]

Are you an avid listener of the Manatees? Where abouts you listening from? This is Kirk Agius, the color commentator of the Manatees and we appreciate the support.

[pogokat]

Welcome aboard Kirk!

 

We all tune in from time to time...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 5, Jacksonville (Dodgers) 4

 

Huntsville Site game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1115

 

Perez Caps "Wild" Ninth With Winning Run

 

Yohannis Perez scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to carry the Stars to a 5-4 win over Jacksonville Wednesday afternoon in the middle game of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars have won the last two games to improve to 6-5 on the season and 4-4 at home, while the Suns dropped to 6-7 on the year. The Stars have won back-to-back games against the Suns for the first time since May 22-23, 2004 at home.

 

Marshall McDougal?s two-out, two-run bases loaded single in the top half of the ninth against Grant Balfour got the game tied at four. The veteran right-hander walked Anthony Raglani to reload the bases and was taken out of the game and replaced by Robert Hinton, who got Luke Allen to ground into a fielder?s choice to end the inning.

 

Jon Meloan took over on the hill for the Suns in the home half and gave up a leadoff single to Perez and a bunt base hit to Guilder Rodriguez before striking out Mel Stocker for the first out of the frame. Hernan Iribarren?s ground out to second base advanced the runners and Perez was able to dash home without a throw when Meloan?s first pitch to Steve Moss got past the catcher Alberto Concepcion.

 

Perez and Iribarren each had their first three-hit games of the season and each knocked in a run. The Stars collected 12 hits for a second straight day and have scored five or more runs in five of their last six games. Stars? starter Adam Pettyjohn went 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on eight hits. He struck out six and did not walk a batter in his third turn of the season.

 

Jacksonville scored single runs in the first and second innings before the Stars rallied for three in the home third to take the lead. Stocker singled in the first run, Iribarren?s fielder?s choice grounder brought home the second and Steve Sollmann?s infield hit plated Iribarren to give the Stars their first lead. Perez delivered an RBI single in the fourth that scored Adam Heether, who had reached on a McDougal fielding error at third base.

 

The series continues Thursday night with Huntsville left-hander Steve Hammond taking the hill against Suns? right-hander Alvis Ojeda. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 AM WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Perfect 5-0 day for the organization, details forthcoming...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 10, Jupiter (Marlins) 3

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Will Inman has twice as many K's as hits allowed (22 vs. 11 in 16.2 IP) -- what a prospect; Alcides Escobar raking at .373 (two walks in 51 AB's, but all 19 base hits singles -- with his speed, you'd figure he'd stretch one out by now); has catcher Carlos Corporan figured it out at age 23 -- OPS still at 1.055; Charlie Fermaint and Ned Yost three hits apiece, as the 'Tees garner 18 hits total...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_jupafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_jupafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 9, Oklahoma (Rangers) 2

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for a photo of the homer-happy Vinny Rottino, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2271

 

Rottino, Nelson Power Sounds To 9-2 Victory

 

OKLAHOMA CITY ? Vinny Rottino and Brad Nelson belted home runs and Chris Oxspring worked five strong innings to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 9-2 victory over the Oklahoma RedHawks on Wednesday afternoon at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.

 

Every Sounds batter except Callix Crabbe (0-for-4) recorded a hit in the contest as Nashville (7-6) snapped a two-game skid.

 

It was a story of missed opportunities for Oklahoma as the home team left 14 runners on base against Sounds pitching on the afternoon. Nashville, meanwhile, left a season-low two runners on the basepaths in the contest.

 

Oxspring (1-1) held the RedHawks to one run on six hits over five innings of work to earn his first victory of the season. The Aussie walked four batters while striking out six.

 

Nashville continued its early pattern of first-inning success by grabbing a 2-0 lead against RedHawks starter Doug Mathis in the top half of the contest?s initial frame. Jose Macias and Drew Anderson (2-for-4) opened the game with consecutive doubles to plate the first run. Ryan Braun followed with a fielder?s choice comebacker to Mathis. Anderson maintained a rundown long enough to allow Braun to reach second before being tagged out. After a steal of third base, Braun made it a 2-0 contest when he scored on a Joe Dillon groundout.

 

Oklahoma got a run back in the bottom of the frame when Miguel Ojeda drew a two-out bases-loaded walk from Oxspring on a near-miss 3-2 pitch to drive in Freddy Guzman. The base on balls was the third issued by the Sounds starter in the frame.

 

The Sounds pulled away with three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings against Mathis (0-3), who surrendered eight runs over his five innings of work to take the loss.

 

Rottino accounted for the scoring in the fourth when he smashed his fourth home run of the year, a three-run shot to left that plated Dillon (walk) and Andy Abad (single).

 

AUDIO: Vinny Rottino Three-Run HR --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-18.mp3

 

Braun increased the Nashville lead to 6-1 in the fifth with an RBI double. Anderson scampered home on a Mathis wild pitch for the second run of the frame before Dillon plated Braun with a sacrifice fly to extend the advantage to 8-1.

 

Oklahoma had its chances to climb back in to the game against the Nashville bullpen in the late innings leaving the sacks full in the sixth and two on in the seventh before breaking through with a two-out run against Chris Spurling on Victor Diaz?s eighth-inning RBI single.

 

Nelson (2-for-4) wrapped up the afternoon?s scoring with an opposite-field solo homer to left off RedHawks reliever Wes Littleton in the top of the ninth. His first roundtripper of the season increased the Nashville lead to 9-2. Nelson had singled in his first at-bat to extend his hitting streak to six games, matching the longest of the year by a Sounds player (Braun).

 

Braun, who has hit safely in seven of the last eight games, now has five doubles, five home runs, and four singles among his 14 hits on the year. His .298 average currently leads all Nashville players.

 

Marlon Byrd paced Oklahoma with a 3-for-5 afternoon.

 

The teams continue the series with a 7:05 p.m. meeting on Thursday evening. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo (1-1, 3.27), who fanned 12 batters over six scoreless innings to earn his first career Triple-A win in his last outing, will make the start for the Sounds. Oklahoma will counter with right-hander Alfredo Simon (1-1, 2.70).

 

Nashville Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 4, Greensboro (Marlins) 3

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

FOUR RUN FIFTH PROVIDES POWER WITH FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN

 

The West Virginia Power scored all four of their runs in the fifth inning of Wednesday night?s game at Appalachian Power Park to win their fifth game in a row as they defeated the Greensboro Grasshoppers 4-3, to create a tie for first place between the two teams in the South Atlantic League?s Northern Division.

 

Jacob Blackwood?s solo home run in the second inning put the Grasshoppers ahead 1-0. Greensboro took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when Colin Roberson blasted a solo shot off of Power pitcher Brae Wright, but Wright settled down after that.

 

The big four-run inning for the Power began on Andrew Lefave?s 12 pitch at bat which resulted in an opposite field single. Darren Ford?s sacrifice fly scored Lefave to cut the deficit in half. The Power tied the game later in the inning on Chuckie Caufield?s RBI double and took the lead on Michael Brantley?s two-run single with two outs. Greensboro scored their final run of the game in the top of the sixth inning on Chris Hatcher?s double.

 

Brae Wright (1-0) gave up two runs on six hits through six innings to earn the win, Omar Aguilar (2) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to get the save and Michael Hyle (1-1) took the loss. Jimmy Mojica paced the Power with three hits, while Lefave, Brantley and Caufield all recorded two hits apiece.

 

In the middle of the eighth inning Greensboro Manager Edwin Rodriguez and first baseman Logan Morrison were ejected by field umpire Matt Pridemore for arguing a call at first base.

 

The Power improved to 7-3 with the win and the Grasshoppers fell to 8-4 with the loss. The 4-3 victory for the Power was their sixth decided by a run.

 

The Power will continue the three game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at Appalachian Power Park on Thursday night. Greensboro will start right hander Kyle Winters (0-0, 8.31) and the Power will counter with right hander Mike McClendon (0-0, 1.00). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Hey, this fairly unheralded bunch is making us all proud with their play thus far; Jimmy Mojica well on his way to winning the Brewerfan Rookie of the Month Award for April -- OPS now at 1.174; just-turned 22-year-old RH closer Omar Aguilar isn't imposing size-wise (6'0", 220), but it's been clear he was being groomed for a closer's spot in the spring training games...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

D.J. Lidyard pitches out of his own bases loaded, one-out jam in the 7th...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

Charleston Gazette Photographer: Chip Ellis

Wearing a pink uniform in honor of the Susan G. Komen Run for the Cure, left-hander Brae Wright picked up his first win.

 

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/Power.jpg

[saget]

My man-crush on Inman is in mid-season form.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1

 

Stars stumble, yet win

Team loses lead in ninth, comes back for 5-4 victory

By MARK McCARTER

Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com

 

What kind of lessons are our kids learning?

 

There it was, the bottom of the ninth, tie game, winning run on second, nobody out.

 

In the stands, teachers and chaperones who had accompanied hundreds of school children to a rare mid-morning Huntsville Stars game were herding students toward waiting buses, oblivious to the drama.

 

Of course, what kind of lessons had they learned on the field?

 

It was a gumbo of five errors, several "gimmie" runs, hapless bunting, a grossly misplayed fly ball and, ultimately, a wild pitch that brought home the winning run in a 5-4 Stars' triumph over Jacksonville.

 

"A thriller," said pitching coach Rich Sauveur. "Of course, we made it a thriller."

 

Shortstop Yohannis Perez and second baseman Hernan Iribarren each had three hits and starting pitcher Adam Pettyjohn had a solid start, scattering eight hits and striking out six in 6 1/3 innings.

 

The Stars, 6-5 after back-to-back wins, host Jacksonville again tonight and Friday at 7:05 to wrap up the homestand.

 

Huntsville carried a 4-2 lead into the ninth, the game capably in the hands of reliever Grant Balfour, with a 1.42 ERA and two saves already.

 

However, he gave up two hits and a walk, then Marshall McDougall singled into center to drive in a pair of runs.

 

Jacksonville brought on its ace, Jonathan Meloan, who hadn't given up a run all year and had struck out 12 in seven innings. Perez greeted him with a single, then Guilder Rodriguez beat out a bunt.

 

After Mel Stocker failed in a bunt attempt - the Stars had bunted into a double play in fourth - Iribarren advanced the runners with a grounder.

 

Meloan then uncorked his wild pitch, enabling Perez to score from third.

 

The Suns took a 2-0 lead when Brendan Katin dropped a Chin-Lung Hu fly to open the game, with Hu scoring on a Corey Dunlap grounder, then center fielder Steve Moss misplayed a Hu fly into a two-out RBI triple in the second.

 

The Stars went ahead 3-2 in the third on RBI singles by Stocker and Steve Sollman and an Iribarren groundout, then Perez singled home Adam Heether in the fourth after a Jacksonville error.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp

 

Inman enjoys another gem against Jupiter

By Shane Figueroa / Special to MLB.com

 

Will Inman yielded just one hit over six scoreless innings as Brevard County defeated Jupiter, 10-3, on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Stadium.

 

Inman (1-1) struck out seven, walked two and hit a batter. The 20-year-old right-hander fanned the side in the third inning and now has 22 strikeouts in three starts covering 16 2/3 frames.

 

The Manatees (6-6) scored six runs over the first three innings to back Inman, who lowered his ERA from 0.84 to 0.54.

 

"It was nice to get runs early," said Inman, who took a hard-luck loss against Jupiter on April 12 after giving up one unearned run while striking out nine in five innings. "It made my job a little easier and I could focus on throwing strikes and not having to be perfect with every pitch."

 

Inman worked around a leadoff walk in the first and a two-out single in the second before finding his groove in the third.

 

"I tried to pitch carefully early," he said. "They've got a great hitting team, so I tried to get the ball inside and I ended up getting too picky.

 

"But I definitely found a groove in the third. I had a good changeup, and that helped me control my fastball and curve a little more. I had better command after that."

 

Charlie Fermaint went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs for Brevard County, who banged out 18 hits. Alcides Escobar and Ned Yost each collected three hits, and Carlos Corporan, Mat Gamel and Lorenzo Cain had two apiece.

 

Hitting coach Ken Berry, in a post game interview on Manatees Radio said. "Our guys are really working in the box to get good pitches to hit. We are seeing the ball really well and it is showing. They are really making good contact."

 

Lorenzo Scott Jr. smacked an RBI single in the seventh for the Hammerheads (7-6).

 

Will Inman, who lowered his ERA to 0.54, has now struck out 22 batters in 16 2/3 innings. (Jerry Hale/MLB.com)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/04/18/rEd9erRE.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.dailymail.com/story/S...2007-team/

 

Power manager likes makeup of 2007 team

Jacob Messer

Charleston Daily Mail Sportswriter

 

He might not have a Ryan Braun in his batting order or a Will Inman on his pitching staff, but West Virginia Power Manager Mike Guerrero likes the players he has on his roster this season.

 

And for good reason.

 

His team, the Milwaukee Brewers' low Class A affiliate, extended its winning streak to five games Wednesday with a 4-3 victory over the Greensboro (N.C.) Grasshoppers in front of an Appalachian Power Park crowd of 1,439.

 

West Virginia (7-3) and Greensboro (8-4) are tied atop the South Atlantic League's Northern Division standings.

 

With a group of unheralded players -- only six were drafted within the first 10 rounds -- the Power has a winning record after its first 10 games for the first time in its three-year history.

 

West Virginia started the 2005 season with a 1-9 record and the 2006 campaign with a 4-6 mark.

 

"I feel happy about this group because they work hard and play hard," Guerrero said after his team earned its sixth one-run victory this season. "They are out here every day at one o'clock. They don't complain. They just work their tails off.

 

"They are starting to grow up physically and mentally. They are figuring out what we want them to do as a team. It will be nice to watch them develop throughout the season."

 

West Virginia starter Brae Wright (1-0) got the win. The left-hander allowed three runs on six hits in six innings. He finished with six strikeouts and one walk.

 

Power closer Omar Aguilar pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his second save.

 

Greensboro starter Michael Hyle (1-1) took the loss. The right-hander yielded four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six batters and walked three others.

 

The Power had 11 hits, including at least one from six of its nine batters.

 

Third baseman Jimmy Mojica led West Virginia with three hits. Left fielder Michael Brantley, right fielder Chuckie Caufield and first baseman Andrew LeFave added two hits apiece.

 

"We are starting to swing the bat a lot better," said Guerrero, whose team has a .264 batting average. "Once they get more comfortable, they are going to swing the bat even better than they are now."

 

The Power erased a two-run deficit with a four-run fifth.

 

LeFave and Mojica started the inning with back-to-back singles, then stole third and second, respectively. Center fielder Darren Ford followed with a sacrifice fly to score LeFave. Hyle walked shortstop Brent Brewer, then surrendered a run-scoring double to Caufield. One out later, Brantley delivered a two-run single to score Brewer and Caufield.

 

"We got the key hits when we needed them," Brantley said. "We have been doing that lately. That's why we're on this nice little streak."

 

The Grasshoppers scored two of their runs on homers -- a solo shot by third baseman Jacob Blackwood in the second and another by right fielder Colin Roberson in the fourth.

 

Their other run was unearned. Roberson struck out in the sixth, but catcher Andy Bouchie dropped strike three and misfired on his throw to first base.

 

Roberson reached second on Bouchie's error and scored on catcher Chris Hatcher's double.

 

"Brae really battled," Power pitching coach John Curtis said of the southpaw, who remained in the game after a line drive ricocheted off his right knee in the second. "He got hurt on a couple of pitches that were up (in the strike zone). But he did his job. He held them."

 

With his team clinging to a one-run lead in the seventh, Power reliever Dustin Lidyard escaped a jam.

 

The Grasshoppers loaded the bases with one out on a pair of singles by shortstop Daniel Garcia and left fielder John Raynor followed by a walk to second baseman Chris Coghlan. But Lidyard retired designated hitter Spike McDougall on a strikeout and Blackwood on a flyout to thwart the threat and end the inning.

 

"Lidyard was a little bit shaky there," Curtis said, "but he got out of it."

 

POWER POINTS: The teams will play the second of their three-game series at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central). The Power will start right-hander Mike McClendon (0-0, 1.00). The Grasshoppers will throw right-hander Kyle Winters (0-0, 8.31). ... Field umpire Matt Pridemore ejected Greensboro Manager Edwin Rodriguez and first baseman Logan Morrison in the top of the eighth after they argued a close call at first base. ... Power players and coaches wore pink jerseys to promote the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, an annual event that raises funds for breast cancer research.

 

Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Tom Hindman

The West Virginia Power?s Michael Brantley is tagged out on a steal attempt at second base by Greensboro?s Chris Coghlan at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday.

 

http://www.dailymail.com/images/Power0419.jpg