SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Owens and Leach Toss One-Hitter

Published on July 28, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Charleston, WV (July 28, 2009) - One night after tossing the first no hitter in the history of Appalachian Power Park, Rudy Owens and Brian Leach combined to toss a one-hitter on Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park as the West Virginia Power won their fifth game in a row, defeating the Charleston Riverdogs 4-1.

The Power took advantage of a pair of defensive mistakes and timely hits to take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Starling Marte began the inning with a base hit and stole second base. Austin McClune hit a groundball to the shortstop Addison Maruszak, who attempted to throw Marte out at third, but his errant throw went into foul territory, allowing Marte to score and McClune to reach third. Tony Sanchez followed with a single to right field which scored McClune and Sanchez scored the final run of the inning when Bobby Spain bounced into a 4-6-3 double play.

West Virginia got their final run in the bottom of the third when Sanchez belted his second homerun of the season. The Riverdogs were able to avoid the shutout in the top of the ninth. Brian Leach walked the first three batters of the inning to load the bases. He struck out Melky Mesa to record the first out, but a passed ball on the third strike allowed Jeff Farnham to score. Leach then struck out Taylor Grote and Maruszak hit a fly ball deep to left center that Marte ran down to end the game.

Leach (4-1) allowed just an unearned run on one hit and fanned five over six innings to secure the victory. Cory Arbiso (3-7) was tagged for four runs on seven hits over six and two-thirds while striking out five in a losing effort. Rudy Owens started the game for the Power and stuck out four batters over three hitless innings. Neall French recorded Charleston's only hit on a base hit in the fifth inning.

West Virginia improved to 44-56 overall, and 17-13 in the second half after the win, while the Riverdogs fell to 52-50 overall and 13-19 in the second half after the loss. Quincy Latimore belted a two-out single in the eighth inning to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Starling Marte and Tony Sanchez both turned in two-hits a piece to pace the Power. Marte has now hit safely in 14 straight games and has reached in all 25 games with the Power. Sanchez extended his hitting streak to six games and has reached in 17 straight games. He's knocked in 17 runs in his 17 games in a Power uniform.

West Virginia will finish the four game series against the Charleston Riverdogs at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday night. The Power will start right hander Gabriel Alvarado (5-8, 5.23) and the Riverdogs will counter with right hander Brandon Braboy (2-4, 3.61). The first pitch will be delivered at 7:05 PM

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 28, 2009


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