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SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Four Homers Not Enough as Lexington Sweeps Twin Bill

May 20, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


CHARLESTON, WV - The Power hit four homers across their doubleheader against Lexington today, but the Legends took both games of the twin bill against West Virginia, winning game 1, 6-4, before ekeing out a 7-6 win in game two on Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park.

COMPLETION OF SUSPENDED GAME FROM SATURDAY: LEXINGTON 6, WEST VIRGINIA 4

After Saturday's game was suspended in the top of the second inning with West Virginia leading 2-0 thanks to Deon Stafford's two-run homer in the first, play resumed on Sunday with Evan Piechota (2-1) taking over on the mound for Gavin Wallace with one on and nobody out.

The normally strong Piechota had a rough start to his outing, as he gave up his first home run of the season to Dennicher Carrasco in the second, tying the game at two. Lexington (20-19) would tack on two more in the third against Piechota, as Cal Jones led off the frame with a double before scoring on Travis Jones' single up the middle that gave the Legends the lead. The next batter, MJ Melendez, grounded a ball towards first that glanced off the glove of Kyle Watson and into right field, which allowed Jones to cross the plate and push Lexington's lead to 4-2.

West Virginia (23-16) would respond, however, as Oneil Cruz and Rodolfo Castro began the third and fourth, respectively, with solo home runs off Legends reliever Collin Snider (2-3). Cruz blistered his team-leading sixth blast to right field, while Castro gulfed his fifth home run of the year to right-center that knotted the game at four.

Home runs continued to be the story of the game, as Travis Jones snuck one around the left field foul pole in the fifth against Piechota to put Lexington back out in front 5-4.

Both offenses would be subdued after the fifth, as neither team scored a run from the sixth to the eighth innings. Piechota lasted through two outs in the eighth, as the right-hander tossed a career-high 6.2 innings and allowed four runs on nine hits while striking out five in the loss. Meanwhile, Snider ultimately went 4.2 innings and ceded two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts before turning the ball over to Julio Pinto.

Pinto held the Power hitless over two frames, surrendering just two walks and fanning a pair. Ricky Aracena provided Lexington with an insurance run in the ninth on an RBI single that plated Carrasco to make it 6-4.

Tyler Zuber (S, 5) completed a four-out save, his fifth in as many opportunities, giving up just a leadoff single in the ninth to Calvin Mitchell before inducing a pair of fly outs and a strikeout to end the game.

GAME 2: LEXINGTON 7, WEST VIRGINIA 6 (F/7)

With the game tied at six in the seventh, Matt Seelinger (1-2) relieved Beau Sulser, who had just tossed two scoreless frames for West Virginia (23-17). Julio Gonzalez led off the inning with a walk, and after a flyout from Travis Jones, Cristian Perez ripped a single to left to put runners at first and second. A groundout from MJ Melendez pushed both runners up a base, setting the stage for Brewer Hicklen, who legged out an infield grounder to Cruz that brought it Gonzalez to give the Legends (21-19) a 7-6 lead that they would not relinquish.

Andrew Beckwith (2-0) finished off the game in the seventh, setting down the Power 1-2-3 to complete the doubleheader sweep.

After West Virginia took a 1-0 lead in the first on a Janser Lara balk that scored Sanchez from third, Lexington scored six unanswered runs, including a five-spot in the fifth. Their big inning against Hunter Stratton began with back-to-back singles from Hicklen and Dennicher Carrasco. After a Marten Gasparini strikeout, Matt Morales walked and Cal Jones smacked a two-RBI double that plated Hicklen and Carrasco. Gonzalez then stroked a run-scoring single that ended up scoring Morales and Cal Jones due to a throwing error from the second baseman Brett Pope. Travis Jones capped the frame with a single to left that brought Gonzalez home.

The Power did not go away quietly, however, as Cruz continued his torrid stretch by smacking a home run over the left field fence in the fourth that ignited a two-run inning that closed the gap to 6-3. The shortstop now has a team-high seven home runs on the season.

West Virginia turned the tables on Lexington in the sixth inning, as they scored three runs to knot the game at six. Legends reliever Robert Garcia walked Ryan Peurifoy and hit Mason Martin with a pitch to lead off the inning. After that, Raul Hernandez knocked in Peurifoy with a single before Ben Bengtson did the same for Martin. After Lexington made a call to the bullpen for Beckwith, Lolo Sanchez tied things up with a sacrifice fly that drove in Hernandez.

The Power now head to Columbia, S.C. to begin a four-game series against the Columbia Fireflies, with first pitch on Monday set for 7:05 p.m. from Spirit Communications Park. RHP Max Kranick will make his first start of the year for West Virginia, while Columbia's starter has yet to be determined. Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at wvpower.com, via the TuneIn Radio App and the MiLB First Pitch App.

Following a four-game stint in South Carolina, the Power return home on May 25 for their final May homestand, as they take on the Kannapolis Intimidators from May 25-28 at Appalachian Power Park. The homestand kicks off with another postgame fireworks show on Friday evening, presented by Electric 102.7. The marquee event of this home stretch is on Saturday with Legends of Wrestling Night, sponsored by Mix 100.9 and The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, which includes a special appearance from Jim Ross and a sports duffel bag giveaway to the first 1,000 fans in attendance. $50 VIP packages are still available for purchase, where fans will receive a ticket to the game, a Perfect Game coupon that includes a hot dog, soda and a bag of chips, and access to a private meet-and-greet, autograph and photo session with Jim Ross. A Kidz Sunday Funday and a Family Buck Night wrap up the Power's final homestand before the team hits the road for Lexington, Kentucky. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit wvpower.com.

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