SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Grasshoppers Avoid Power Sweep

Published on June 28, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Greensboro, NC (June 28, 2009) - The Greensboro Grasshoppers belted three homeruns on Sunday evening at NewBridge Bank Park and rallied in the final three innings to avoid a four game sweep with an 8-7 victory over the West Virginia Power in 11 innings.

Greensboro got started early on a two-run homer from Justin Bass in the bottom of the second. West Virginia plated their first run on Quincy Latimore's run scoring groundout just a half-inning later. The Grasshoppers used a three-run third inning to take their largest lead of the game. Justin Jacobs reached on a fielder's choice to plate the first run and Bass struck again with a two-run double. Brett Willemburg reached on Paul Gran's error in the fourth inning which allowed Calvin Anderson to score and the Power pulled within two when Bobby Spain scored on a wild pitch in the sixth.

Erik Huber tied the game at 5-5 with a two-run single in the top of the seventh inning and the Power took the lead when Huber came home on Anderson's double. West Virginia added another run in the top of the ninth inning when Starling Marte singled in Huber.

The game appeared to be over just a half inning later, when Jake Smolinski hit a line drive to Willemburg at second with a runner on first base and one out. Willemburg dropped the liner, but picked up the loose ball and tagged second before firing to first for what appeared to be a game ending double play. Field umpire Ian Fazio said that second base was never touched, therefore only one out was recorded. The next batter, Ben Lasater hit a two-run homer to tie the game to send it into extra innings and Isaac Galloway ended the game in the bottom of the 11th on a walk off solo shot.

Yoffri Martinez (4-5) surrendered the solo shot to Galloway in the eleventh and was tagged with the loss. Pete Andrelczyk (1-2) allowed a run on three hits over three innings and earned the victory. Ramon Aguero and Owen Brolsma combined to toss five and a third scoreless innings of relief for the Power.

West Virginia fell to 30-44 overall, and 3-1 in the second half after the loss, while the Grasshoppers improved to 38-36 overall and 1-3 in the second half after the win. Starling Marte paced the Power with a 3-for-5 performance and Erik Huber turned in the other multi-hit game going 2-for-6, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. Calvin Anderson walked and doubled to extend his on base streak to 13 games and Adenson Chourio reached base four times, stole three bases and scored twice. Eight out of nine Power batters reached base in the contest, including Austin McClune who has reached in ten straight games.

West Virginia is off on Monday, but will begin a four game series against the Lake County Captains at Classic Park on Tuesday night. The Power will start left hander Rudy Owens (8-1, 2.05) and the Captains will counter with right hander Alexander Perez (5-2, 2.89). The first pitch will be delivered at 7:00 PM.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 28, 2009


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