Power Can't Complete Comeback
August 21, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
The West Virginia Power lost 5-4 to the Charleston RiverDogs on Tuesday evening at Appalachian Power Park. The RiverDogs plated four in the second and staved off a late Power rally to even the series with one game to go.
Each starting pitcher retired the side in order during the first inning, but Charleston got on the board early in the second inning. Saxon Butler led off the second with a solo home run to right center off West Virginia's Robby Rowland. Four batters later, Cody Grice hit a three run home run to left center and extended the lead to 4-0.
Scottie Allen started the game for the RiverDogs and pitched four and two-thirds shutout innings. Fred Lewis and Pedro Guerra combined to keep the Power bats at bay over the next two and a third innings. In to top of the eighth, Charleston added a run on a single by Casey Stevenson for a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, West Virginia loaded the bases with single by Ashley Ponce, a walk by Alen Hanson, and a single from Jose Osuna. With two outs, Eric Avila drove a 2-1 pitch from Charley Short over the left field wall for the Power's first grand slam of the season and cut the deficit down to one at 5-4. After another walk, short was replaced by Nick Goody, who struck out Willy Garcia with the tying run aboard to end the inning.
In the ninth, Goody struck out the side to end the game.
Rowland (8-4) took the loss after allowing four runs on four hits over six innings. Rowland also stuck out a season-best eight batters. Lewis (6-2) pitched an inning and a third of scoreless relief for the win while Goody earned his sixth save.
Osuna and Avila's hits in the eighth extended their current hitting streaks to 13 and 10 games, respectively. Avila's grand slam was the first by a Power hitter since June 5, 2010 when Jarek Cunningham hit one at Asheville.
West Virginia and Charleston conclude this series Wednesday evening at Appalachian Power Park. The Power will start Zac Fuesser against the RiverDogs' Bryan Mitchell at 7:05 pm.
SECOND HALF RECORD: 32-26
OVERALL RECORD: 55-76
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