Four-Run Fourth Not Enough in Walk-Off Loss
July 23, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
HICKORY, N.C. - Devin Sweet hurled a quality start and Bobby Honeyman smashed his seventh homer of the season, but it was not enough to propel West Virginia to a win, as the Hickory Crawdads rallied late to walk it off on a Melvin Novoa RBI single, handing the Power a 5-4 loss Tuesday evening at L.P. Frans Stadium.
Hickory (21-10, 62-35) struck first in the first inning, as Josh Jung and Ryan Anderson laced a pair of singles to put runners at first and second with two down. Novoa then cracked a two-run double down the left-field line to give the Crawdads a 2-0 lead.
The 'Dads extended their lead in the second with another two-out RBI, this time off the bat of Jung, who stung a run-scoring single to center to make it 3-0 Hickory.
West Virginia (15-17, 52-50) broke through against Abdiel Mendoza in the fourth, as Julio Rodriguez led off the frame with a scalded double to the right-center field wall. The next batter, Honeyman, snuck a ball over the right-field wall for a two-run homer to slim the Crawdads' lead to one. Honeyman's blast also pushed his hitting streak to 18 games, tying Jarred Kelenic for the longest hitting streak by a Power batter this season. The Stony Brook product boasts a .351 (27-for-77) average with two homers, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored during this stretch.
Jake Anchia kept the offense going in the fourth, busting out of a 2-for-31 slump with an RBI double that plated Austin Shenton to tie the game at three. Two batters later, Charlie McConnell scorched a single to left to vault West Virginia ahead 4-3.
Meanwhile, Sweet settled in after a rough first two frames, setting down nine straight batters from the third through the fifth innings. Sweet ultimately lasted six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out eight and walking none to pick up his fourth career quality start.
Reeves Martin fired a scoreless seventh inning, but ran into trouble immediately in the eighth. The first batter he faced, Novoa, stroked one over the left-field wall, tying the game at four with his fifth roundtripper of the year.
Elias Espino (2-2) entered in the ninth and walked the leadoff man, Miguel Aparicio. After inducing back-to-back lineouts, Espino issued another free pass to Jonathan Ornelas to put two runners at first and second with two down. Novoa then stepped up and worked the at-bat to its 10th pitch against Espino before plopping a single into left, scoring Aparicio to win it for Hickory.
Tai Tiedemann (4-0) picked up the win for the Crawdads, tossing 2.1 hitless frames while striking out three men to extend his scoreless innings streak to 12.1.
The Power continues their three-game series against the Hickory Crawdads Wednesday night at L.P. Frans Stadium, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. RHP Evan Johnson (0-1, 4.15 ERA) heads to the hill for West Virginia, while Hickory counters with southpaw Grant Wolfram (4-2, 4.94 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:40 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at wvpower.com and via the TuneIn Radio App and MiLB First Pitch App.
The Power returns to Appalachian Power Park on July 31 for another seven-game homestand that welcomes the Rome Braves and Greensboro Grasshoppers to town. Some highlights of the homestand include CAMC Night on Friday, August 2, and Back to School Night on Saturday, August 3. The Power will sport special 'Hot Shot' jerseys on Friday that will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the CAMC Foundation and benefitting local causes in the Kanawha Valley. Saturday, the first 1,000 fans can receive a limited edition backpack as a part of Back to School Night, presented by Todd Judy Ford. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.
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