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Charleston Dirty Birds

Keller, Power Top Lakewood 6-1

May 31, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


(Charleston, WV)- The West Virginia Power knocked off the Lakewood BlueClaws 6-1 to even up the three game set Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park. The West Virginia pitching staff, anchored by starter Mitch Keller, combined to allow just one run and four hits total, while striking out twelve.

Following a couple of scoreless frames, the Power took the lead in the third. After Alfredo Reyes hit a lead off double and advanced to third on a Tito Polo single, Mitchell Tolman hit a sacrifice fly to put the Power up 1-0.

Keller (4-3) faced the minimum through the opening three innings, allowing just one base runner on a hit by pitch. The 'Claws got on the board in the fourth on a RBI bloop single by Jose Pujols.

That was all Keller would allow along with three hits through six innings, while striking out six. The right-hander has allowed two runs or less in nine of his ten starts this season and leads the South Atlantic League in strikeouts with 64.

West Virginia recaptured the lead in the sixth against starter Luke Leftwich. Mitchell Tolman hit a leadoff single to center and was sacrificed to second by Daniel Arribas. That set the table for Carlos Munoz who hit a hard groundball up the middle just past the dive of second baseman Josh Tobias, and into center field for an RBI single to put the Power ahead 2-1.

Leftwich (4-3) gave up two runs and six hits over seven innings.

Daniel Zamora preserved the 2-1 advantage with two shutout innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three.

The Power broke the game open in the eighth, scoring four times against Lakewood reliever Sutter McCloughlin. After a Polo lead-off triple, his team leading second of the season, and a Tolman walk, Arribas hit a rocket that shortstop Emmanuel Marrero could not handle, putting the Power up 3-1. The next batter, Carlos Munoz, lined a single to center to load the bases. That brought up Ryan Nagle who hit a groundball that was thrown away by McCloughlin, allowing Tolman and Arribas to score. Tyler Filliben hit a run-scoring fielders choice to close the scoring and put the Power up 6-1.

Julio Eusebio struck out the side in the ninth, notching his team leading fifth save of the season. The Power bullpen has now thrown eleven consecutive scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 13 during that stretch, seven on Tuesday night alone.

Polo, Tolman and Munoz all finished with a pair of hits, with five different Power players driving in a run.

West Virginia plays the rubber game of the series Wednesday afternoon. Logan Sendelbach makes his eleventh start of the year for the Power, matched up against Harold Arauz for Lakewood. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 P.M. at Appalachian Power Park.

First Half Record

27-24

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 31, 2016


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