Power's Allie reaching new heights

Stetson Allie quit swinging the bat at the end of high school to become a professional pitcher. After changing course, he's managed to pick up where he left off three years ago.

The Pirates prospect continued his hot hitting Friday night by going 4-for-4 with four RBIs as Class A West Virginia coasted to an 11-2 romp over visiting Lakewood.

Allie extended his hitting streak to nine games by doubling to open the second inning. He also singled in the third, delivered two-run singles in the fourth and sixth and completed a perfect night at the plate by walking in the eighth.

The pitcher-turned-first baseman recovered from a 10-for-47 slump earlier this month and has gone 18-for-37 with 16 RBIs during his streak. He's raised his average to .345 and leads the South Atlantic League with 13 homers and 45 RBIs.

"I had been getting away from my approach," Allie told MiLB.com earlier this week. "Over the past three or so days, I've gotten back to it. I'm working hard in my early work on seeing the ball and sticking to what I do best.

Allie, 22, is second among all Minor Leaguers with 115 total bases and eighth with a 1.077 OPS. He credited the work he's done with hitting coach Orlando Merced on adjusting to pitches on the outside part of the plate.

"If I stay with the same thing, I can see breaking pitches and changeups better," he explained. "It just works out that way."

Allie moved from the mound to first base last season. In two years as a pitcher in the Pirates system, the Ohio native was 0-3 with a 7.76 ERA in 17 games. As a senior at St. Edward High School in Lakewood in 2010, he batted .500 with a team-high 14 doubles and 32 RBIs.

Josh Bell, the Pirates' No. 6 prospect, reached base twice and scored twice, while Max Moroff plated a pair of runs in the Power's fifth straight win.

"I saw very good at-bats, one through nine," Power manager Mike Ryan told The Charleston Gazette. "When our top of the lineup is doing well, it puts Stetson and Josh in some good situations and Eric Wood into some RBI situations."

John Kuchno allowed three hits over 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory.

Phillies No. 5 prospect Roman Quinn went 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored for the BlueClaws, who committed seven errors and have lost three in a row.