SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Four Lexington Homers Too Much for Power

Published on July 19, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


LEXINGTON, KY - West Virginia could not overcome four home runs from the Lexington Legends, who bashed their way to a 10-1 win in the series opener Thursday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.

For the second straight game, West Virginia (13-13, 50-42) allowed a lead-off home run, this time to Kyle Isbel, who deposited the second pitch he saw from Cody Bolton (3-3) over the right-center field fence to give Lexington a 1-0 lead.

The Legends (12-14, 49-45) flexed their muscles again in the second and the third, as Manny Olloque stroked a solo home run to left-center field in the second and Cristian Perez ripped a three-run homer to left in the third to extend Lexington's lead to 5-0.

Bolton lasted just three innings, allowing five runs on six hits while striking out three and walking one. He surrendered three home runs in a game for the first time in his career.

After being held scoreless through three frames, the Power broke through against Legends starter Daniel Lynch in the fourth. Rodolfo Castro and Calvin Mitchell started the inning with back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Following a strikeout by Deon Stafford, Jesse Medrano grounded one right through Perez's legs at shortstop, plating Castro to close the deficit to 5-1. West Virginia had a chance to shrink Lexington's lead even further in the frame, but the Legends snuffed out Mitchell attempting to steal home before gunning down Medrano as he tried to advance to third on Ben Bengtson's single to end the inning.

Sergio Cubilete kept Lexington quiet through the fourth and the fifth innings, ceding just a pair of walks, but the Legends woke up in the sixth. With one out in the frame, Carlos Diaz reached on an error by Cubilete to bring Marten Gasparini to the dish. Gasparini then drilled Lexington's fourth home run of the game to right-center, pushing their lead to 7-1.

The Legends tacked on three more runs in the eighth on an RBI triple from Olloque, a ground out from Diaz and a run-scoring single from Perez, expanding their edge to 10-1.

Danny Hrbek (4-0) earned the win after spinning two scoreless innings in relief of Lynch.

West Virginia continues its four-game series against Lexington Friday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. RHP Travis MacGregor (1-2, 2.59 ERA) gets the nod for the Power, while the Legends counter with righty Yefri Del Rosario (0-5, 5.18 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at www.wvpower.com and via the TuneIn Radio App and MiLB First Pitch App.

After their eight-game road trip, the Power returns home for their final homestand of July, with the Asheville Tourists coming to town from July 27-29. On Friday, July 27, West Virginia hosts Faith and Family Night, presented by Mako Medical Laboratories, which will feature a postgame fireworks show, presented by TransCanada and Electric 102.7, as well as pregame concerts from The Jason Lovins Band and the New Life 94.5 2018 Power Factor competition winner, The Sycomores. On Saturday, July 28, the first 1,000 fans will receive a bucket hat giveaway, courtesy of IHOP. The homestand wraps up Sunday, July 29, with a Kid's Sunday Funday. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 19, 2018


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