SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Collapse in the Ninth

Published on June 3, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Kannapolis, NC (June 3, 2009) - For the second game in a row, the West Virginia Power squandered a large lead, as they surrendered a four-run advantage, allowing Kannapolis to score five times in the bottom of the ninth inning of Wednesday night's game at FieldCrest Cannon Stadium in a 7-6 loss to the Intimidators.

Kannapolis scored twice in the bottom of the first to take the lead. Sergio Morales's sacrifice fly plated Justin Greene and Seth Loman reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Drew Garcia to score. The Power took the lead just a half inning later with a three-run second inning. Calvin Anderson, Erik Huber and Quincy Latimore started the frame with three straight singles. A wild pitch plated Anderson, Bobby Spain's groundout brought Huber home and Latimore scored on Josue Peley's bunt single.

West Virginia added two more in the fourth. Huber began the inning with a double and scored on Latimore's base hit. Austin McClune reached on a fielder's choice later in the inning, allowing Latimore to score. The Power added another insurance run in the eighth inning, as Bobby Spain extended his hitting streak to seven games on a two-out RBI single.

The Intimidators scored five times on four hits to come back and win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Eduardo Escobar walked to start the rally and moved to second base on a single from Justin Greene. Run scoring singles from Garcia and Tyler Kuhn followed, and Morales walked to load the bases. Loman brought in the next run on a sacrifice fly, and Jon Gilmore delivered the game winning hit on a double down the left field line to bring in the tying and winning runs.

Garrett Johnson (2-3) tossed a scoreless inning of relief and earned the victory. Eddie Pena (1-3) allowed all five runs to score in the ninth inning on three hits and was tagged with the loss. Wilson Ortiz and Brian Leach both tossed a pair of scoreless innings in relief for the Power. Duke Welker started the game for the Power and tossed four no hit innings but allowed two runs on seven walks.

West Virginia fell to 20-33 after the loss, and the Intimidators improved to27-26 with the win. The middle of the Power batting order did most of the damage. Calvin Anderson, Erik Huber and Quincy Latimore all turned in multi-hit games, and recorded eight of West Virginia's 11 hits. Anderson and Huber went 3-for-4 and Latimore went 2-for-4. West Virginia has belted 26 hits in their last two games. 12 out of their last 13 games have been decided by two runs or less. They are 6-7 during that stretch.

West Virginia will continue five game series against the Kannapolis Intimidators at FieldCrest Cannon Stadium on Thursday night. Left hander Rudy Owens (5-1, 2.59) will start for the Power and the Intimidators will counter with right hander Stephen Sauer (2-2, 2.31). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 3, 2009


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