SAL1 Charleston RiverDogs

Maggi's Walk off Hit Claims Pitcher's Duel for Power

July 18, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston RiverDogs News Release


CHARLESTON, W.V. - Drew Maggi stroked a RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give the West Virginia Power a 3-2 walk off win over the Charleston RiverDogs in South Atlantic League action Monday night in front of a crowd of 3,233 fans at Appalachian Power Park.

West Virginia upped its mark to 9-16 this half and 44-49 overall with the series-clinching victory, while Charleston fell to 11-14 and 37-58.

Charleston's Scottie Allen and West Virginia's Zach Fuesser were both economical as they went after each other in a pitcher's duel.

The RiverDogs used the long ball to draw first blood in the top of the second, as Kelvin De Leon touched off his 12th home run of the year on a deep fly ball over the left field fence.

The Power responded in the bottom of the frame against Allen, scratching out a run on three singles to tie the game at 1-1. Cole White started the rally with a single, moved to second on a single by Elias Diaz, and came across the plate on a clutch two-out RBI single by Rogelio Noris.

Another manufactured run pushed West Virginia in front, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth. Justin Howard reached on an infield single, and promptly stole second base to enter scoring position. A wild pitch moved Howard to third, and he then went the final 90 feet to home on a RBI infield single by Chase Lyles.

Allen weaved in and out of harm's way over 6.0 solid innings, yielding just the two runs on eight hits while striking out three and not walking a single man.

Fuesser was even better, lasting a season-long 7.0 frames while permitting just the one run. The converted reliever allowed five hits, struck out four, and like Allen, did not issue a free pass.

Eliecer Navarro (1-0) relieved Fuesser in the eighth, and allowed the RiverDogs to draw even. Eduardo Sosa grounded a triple past the first base bag and into the right field corner, and scurried in to even tally at 2 apiece on a Jose Toussen RBI single up the middle.

Charleston got two scoreless relief innings from Francisco Rondon, before turning it over to Yobanny Reyes (0-2) in the ninth. Reyes quickly retired the first two batters he faced, but the Power rallied to account for the final 3-2 outcome.

Noris and Kevin Mort walked, and Maggi brought Norris to the plate with a line drive single to center field.

Despite giving up the lead, Navarro was able to author a scoreless top of the ninth and garner the victory when West Virginia got to Reyes.

Charleston enjoys an off day before returning home to entertain the Lexington Legends in the opener of a three-game series on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. Jose A. Ramirez (4-3, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to take the bump for the RiverDogs, versus fellow righty Mike Foltynewicz (5-7, 4.19 ERA) of the Houston Astros affiliate.




South Atlantic League Stories from July 18, 2011


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