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Charleston Dirty Birds

D'Arnaud delivers in Power Victory

April 25, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Charleston, WV - Chase D'Arnaud smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning of Saturday night's game at Appalachian Power Park to put West Virginia over the top as they took the first game of the series with a 2-1 victory over the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

The game was filled with spoiled opportunities for both clubs, as the two teams combined for 17 hits. Ben Lasater hit a solo homer in the top of the fourth inning to plate Greensboro's only run of the night. Greensboro wasted a pair of opportunities to score late in the game. In the seventh, they had the bases loaded with one out, but couldn't cash in after Brian Leach struck out and Kevin Mattison and got Paul Gran to groundout.

A better opportunity presented itself for the Grasshoppers in the eighth. Singles from Jeremy Synam, Lasater and Kyle Skipworth started the inning to load the bases with nobody out. Leach waved his magic wand and worked his way out of the jam. Justin Jacobs flew out to left field, and Synam took a few steps off the bag at third to draw a throw from Edward Garcia in left. The throw from left was cut off by Bobby Spain at third, and Spain threw Synam out at third. Leach then retired the next batter on a ground ball to end the inning.

Robbie Grossman began the eighth inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before Chase D'Arnaud hammered a 3-2 pitch from Andrew Loomis over the wall in left to give the Power the lead for good. It was D'Arnaud's second homer of the season.

Leach (1-0) worked his way out of bases loaded jams in back to back innings, tossing a pair of scoreless frames and earned the victory. Eddie Pena tossed a scoreless ninth inning to get the save. Loomis (1-1) hadn't allowed an earned run over his first ten innings this season, but was tagged for two runs on a pair of hits in the eighth and suffered the loss.

West Virginia improved to 5-12 with the victory and the Grasshoppers fell to 9-8 after the loss. Bobby Spain and Robbie Grossman turned in multi-hit performances for the Power. Spain has hit safely multiple times in four out of his last five games and Grossman has reached safely in eight straight.

The Power will continue the four game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at Appalachian Power Park on Sunday afternoon. Right hander Thomas Koehler (0-0, 0.00) will start for Greensboro and the Power will counter with left hander Rudy Owens (1-0, 1.98). The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM.

For more information contact the Power Front Offices at (304) 344-2287 or visit the Power website at www.wvpower.com.

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