SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Fortunato Leads Late Power Surge

Published on April 14, 2013 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


(Asheville, NC- April 14, 2013)- The West Virginia Power beat the Asheville Tourists 12-7 Sunday afternoon at McCormick Field. Trailing 6-4 in the eighth, Raul Fortunato hit a three-run home run to push the Power back into the lead for good to clinch the series.

The Power took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first against Tourists starter Eddie Butler. Max Moroff walked and moved to third on a double by Dilson Herrera. D.J. Crumlich grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Moroff for the early advantage.

West Virginia added three runs of support for starter Joely Rodriguez in the top of the fifth inning. The Power loaded the bases and Butler walked Herrera to put West Virginia up 2-0. Crumlich grounded out to bring home the second run of the inning and Stetson Allie drove home Ashley Ponce with a sacrifice fly for a 4-0 lead.

Rodriguez tossed four shutout innings to begin the game, allowing just three hits and four base runners. In the fifth, however, Asheville sent nine batters to the plate, scoring five runs on five hits. A Julian Yan solo home run and Drew Beuerlein's two-run double provided the key scoring plays in the inning to give the Tourists a 5-4 lead. Asheville added a solo home run from Derek Jones in the seventh to build a two run edge.

In the top of the eighth inning, the Power sent nine batters to the plate and regained the lead. Allie led off with a double, Wyatt Mathisen singled to right, and Fortunato cleared the bases with his second three-run home run in as many days. Fortunato hit a three-run shot in Saturday night's 14-9 win that evened the score at nine in the ninth inning before the Power added five more. Now up 7-6 on Sunday, West Virginia scored three more times in the eighth for a 10-6 lead.

The Power added two runs on four singles and a wild pitch in the ninth to cap the West Virginia offense.

Jason Creasy (1-0) pitched the seventh and eighth innings to earn the win before David Jagoditsh pitched the ninth, allowing one run. Alving Mejias (0-1) allowed Fortunato's home run, was charged with a blown save, and took the loss.

Four different players drove in multiple runs for West Virginia and Allie went 3-3 to raise his average to .396. Seven of the nine players in the order had at least one hit as the Power took three of four from the Tourists.

West Virginia travels to Greenville to begin a three game series on Monday evening at 7:05 pm. The Power return to Appalachian Power Park Thursday to open a four game homestand against the Hagerstown Suns.

OVERALL RECORD: 4-7

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 14, 2013


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