Helton Lifts Power in Home Opener
April 14, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
(Charleston, WV- April 14, 2016)- The West Virginia Power won their home opener at Appalachian Power Park 5-0 over the Lexington Legends in front of 3,546 fans. Power starting pitcher Bret Helton gave up just one hit over five innings of work to pick up his first win of the season.
Legends centerfielder DJ Burt singled to lead off the game, but was erased on the base paths trying to steal third. The Legends would not pick up another hit until the ninth inning.
The Power offense quickly went to work against Legends starter Corey Ray. In the bottom of the first, Tito Polo led things off with a single and stole second. Mitchell Tolman doubled on a hard grounder up the first baseline just past the glove of Legends first baseman Josh Banuelos, allowing Polo to score the first Power run of the game making it 1-0.
After another scoreless frame from Helton, West Virginia went right back to work in the bottom of the second. Carlos Munoz walked, an error and a fielder's choice that allowed Ryan Nagle to reach first, Christian Kelley smashed a double into right-center, plating both Nagle and Munoz to put the Power up 3-0. Alfredo Reyes one upped his teammate, lining a triple into left-center, scoring Kelly and expanding the lead to 4-0.
The Power added one more run in the bottom of the fifth. Ke'Bryan Hayes led off with a single then hustled to second base on a wild pitch. Munoz singled up the middle, allowing Hayes to score, tacking on what would be the final run of the game, for a 5-0 West Virginia lead.
Helton (1-0) continued the string of dominating starts by Power starting pitching in the young season, facing just three over the minimum in five scoreless innings. Eric Karch made his South Atlantic League debut and pitched two perfect innings in the sixth and seventh. Julio Eusebio continued the shutout with a spotless eighth. Seth McGarry came on in the ninth and the Legends loaded the baseball on three consecutive singles. McGarry struck out Anderson Miller and Chase Vallot. McGarry induced a ground out to end the game and preserve the shutout.
Ray (0-1) took the loss after surrendering four run runs on five hits over four innings.
Ke'Bryan Hayes led the way for the Power going 2- 4 with a double in his fifth multi-hit game of the year.
West Virginia plays game two of their home opening series against Lexington on Friday, with Mitch Keller facing off against Julio Pinto. First pitch scheduled for 7:05 P.M. with postgame fireworks after the final out.
First Half Record
6-2
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