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Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Rallies for Doubleheader Split

April 26, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


(Charleston, WV- April 26, 2015) - A thrilling finish gave West Virginia a 5-4 victory in game two of their twinbill against the Lexington Legends and also provided a doubleheader split on Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park. Trailing 4-1 entering the sixth in game two, West Virginia scored four unanswered runs to take the lead. The Power fell in game one 4-3 despite a late rally in that game.

Game one saw the Power fall to a 1-0 deficit in the third inning when Lexington's Luis Villegas clubbed a solo home run to left, but West Virginia rallied back to tie it in the fourth. Taylor Gushue drew a one-out single and Michael Suchy followed with a base hit. With runners on first and second, Jerrick Suiter drew a walk to load the bases and Chase Simpson drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Gushue to tie the game at one.

With the scored even at one, the Legends scored three runs in the sixth and West Virginia almost tied the game in their last turn at bat. Cole Tucker hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a Pablo Reyes base knock. Gushue then drew a two-out walk and Suchy brought the Power to within one with a two-run single. After both runners advanced into scoring position due to a wild pitch, West Virginia failed to complete the rally after a strikeout.

Yeudy Garcia (0-2) suffered the loss in relief while Lexington's Torey Deshazier (2-1) earned the victory. Power starter John Sever struck out a season-high six batters and allowed just one run over four innings but didn't factor into the decision.

Game two saw West Virginia starter Jose Regalado get off to a slow start by allowing back-to-back home runs to Humberto Arteaga and Ryan O'Hearn, respectively. The home runs gave Lexington a 3-0 lead and they added another on a squeeze bunt by Carlos Garcia in the fourth.

Like the first game, the Power began to rally in the latter stages of play. Chase Simpson hit a fly ball that carried over the right field wall to put the Power on the board in the fifth. The home run was Simpson's team-best third of the season.

The rally reached its pinnacle in the sixth inning resulting in West Virginia's first lead of the game. Tito Polo hit a one-out single and advanced to second when Trace Tam Sing was hit by a pitch. Jordan Luplow then singled to load the bases, prompting Lexington to take their starter Pedro Fernandez out of the game. With Matt Strahm on the mound, Suchy drew a four-pitch walk to make the score 4-2. Suiter followed with a bases-loaded single to bring home Tam Sing. Simpson then drove in his second run of the game with a single to left to tie the game at four. With the bases still loaded, Kawika Emsley-Pai was hit by a pitch to bring home the go-ahead run.

Nick Neumann locked down the save in the seventh inning to ensure the Power victory. It was the right hander's third save of the season. Junior Lopez (1-0) picked up the victory by working a perfect sixth. Matt Strahm (0-1) suffered a blown save and loss.

The Power conclude the series by taking four of five games against the Legends and will embark on a seven-game road trip to Hagerstown and Greensboro following a league-wide off day on Monday. West Virginia will send Alex McRae (1-1, 4.15) to the to begin the road trip and he will face a Hagerstown starter to be determined. The first game on Tuesday is a resumption of the April 15 suspended game with West Virginia trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning.

West Virginia returns home on Wednesday, May 6 for a seven-game homestand where they battle the Kannapolis Intimidators and the Charleston RiverDogs. For tickets and additional information, visit www.wvpower.com, call (304) 344-BATS (2287) or stop by the Power box office at 601 Morris Street.

First Half Record 11-6

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 26, 2015


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