SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Kranick, Sharpe Guide Power to Fifth Straight Win

Published on June 15, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


CHARLESTON, WV - Max Kranick spun five shutout innings and Chris Sharpe put the game out of reach in the seventh with a bases-clearing double that led West Virginia to an 8-2 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds Friday night at Appalachian Power Park in front of 3,110 fans.

Kranick (1-3) scattered six hits over his five scoreless frames, striking out three while not issuing a walk to earn his first South Atlantic League win. The right-hander used 85 pitches (60 for strikes) to keep Delmarva at bay for five innings.

Sharpe's three-run two-bagger was set up after Rodolfo Castro scorched a ground-rule double to deep right-center to begin the seventh and moved to third on Deon Stafford's single. Following a walk by Ben Bengtson and a ground out, Sharpe launched a wall-scraping double to left that vaulted the Power in front 6-1.

After an Oneil Cruz single to lead-off the first inning, Castro drove him in with an RBI knock down the right-field line to give West Virginia a 1-0 lead. Shorebirds (34-31) starter DL Hall (0-5) settled down after that, striking out the next three Power batters. Overall, the southpaw tossed four innings and allowed just the one run.

West Virginia (36-28) was not done scoring though, as the Power tacked on two runs in the fifth against Reed Hayes. Lolo Sanchez began the inning with a single before he was retired on Cruz's 5-4 fielder's choice ground out. Stafford then worked a walk before Bengtson was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Brett Pope. On a 2-2 pitch, Pope poked one into right to push the Power's lead to 3-0. Pope now has nine RBI in 20 games for West Virginia.

Sanchez later doubled in Kyle Watson in the eighth after the first baseman reached on an error. The center fielder would score after moving to third on a wild pitch and advancing home on Castro's groundout to third.

Matt Seelinger closed out the victory with a scoreless eighth and ninth, wringing up four batters as West Virginia claimed its fifth consecutive win.

The Power continues their three-game series against the Delmarva Shorebirds Saturday, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. from Appalachian Power Park. LHP Domingo Robles (4-4, 3.18 ERA) takes the mound for West Virginia while Delmarva's starter has yet to be determined. Pregame coverage begins at 5:45 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.

West Virginia will hold a West Virginia Day celebration Saturday evening, with a Bluetooth speaker giveaway going to the first 1,000 fans courtesy of Appalachian Power. West Virginia's first-half promotional slate concludes Sunday, June 17, with Lincoln County Day and a special Father's Day Kidz Sunday Funday at the ballpark. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit wvpower.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 15, 2018


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