Late-Inning Comeback Undone in Ninth in 7-3 Loss
June 6, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Keegan McGovern hit his first home run of the season to bring the Power within one, but Greenville plated three runs in the ninth to hand West Virginia a 7-3 loss in the series opener Thursday evening at Appalachian Power Park.
The Drive (26-34) wasted no time getting to Damon Casetta-Stubbs (2-5) in the opening frame. With one down in the inning, Tyler Esplin worked a walk and Devlin Granberg launched a two-run homer to left for an early 2-0 lead. Greenville would tack on one more in the third before Casetta-Stubbs' day would come to a close, as the righty lasted just three innings in a start for the third time this season. Casetta-Stubbs allowed three runs on five hits while striking out a career-high tying five batters.
Sal Biasi relieved Casetta-Stubbs to start the fourth and put himself in an immediate jam after serving up a leadoff double to Jonathan Ortega. Two batters later, Cole Brannen lofted a sacrifice fly to center that brought Ortega home to extend the Drive's lead to 4-0.
Down 4-0 in the sixth, the Power (29-31) started to rally. Manny Pazos worked his way aboard to begin the inning as Esplin dropped a sinking liner in right, allowing Pazos to get to second. McGovern moved Pazos to third for Onil Pena, who roped a double to right that scored Pazos. That was the lone run that Thad Ward (5-2) would concede, as the right-hander subdued West Virginia over six strong innings while racking up a career-high nine strikeouts.
However, the Power did not relent against the Greenville bullpen. Johnny Slater ignited the seventh with a ground-rule double that found its way into the tarp tube down the right-field line. Cesar Izturis Jr. then sacrificed Slater over to third and Ryan Ramiz sent him in with a sacrifice fly to left.
McGovern continued the resurgence in the eighth with his long ball, as he unloaded a 432-foot blast on the first pitch he saw from Miguel Suero to close the deficit to 4-3.
Elias Espino held the Drive at bay through the seventh and eighth innings, setting down all six batters he faced and striking out three, but Greenville was able to get to him in the ninth, tallying three runs to put the game out of reach.
West Virginia continues its four-game series with the Greenville Drive Friday evening at Appalachian Power Park, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. LHP Steven Moyers (4-4, 5.15 ERA) heads to the hill for the Power, while the Drive goes with RHP Chase Shugart (1-0, 2.61 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 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.
Fireworks Friday returns tomorrow evening with another fantastic pyrotechnics show following the final out of Friday's contest with Greenville, presented by the West Virginia Lottery and Suddenlink. The highlight of the homestand is on Saturday, June 8, when the club will celebrate 15 Years of the Power, presented by Appalachian Power, with a special player canvas giveaway available for the first 1,000 fans through the gates. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 6, 2019
- Breazeale Propels 'Birds in Tenth - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Rivera Dominant in Series Opening Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Burt Goes Yard to Lead Dogs over Tourists - Charleston RiverDogs
- Late-Inning Comeback Undone in Ninth in 7-3 Loss - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Montano Goes Deep in Loss to RiverDogs - Asheville Tourists
- Mauricio Magnificent in Series-Opening Defeat - Columbia Fireflies
- Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes: June 6 at Hickory (Game 59) - Columbia Fireflies
- Drew Rom Tabbed O's Pitcher of the Month - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Game Notes (June 6) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hagerstown Suns Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
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