Sports stats



SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Drops Back-And-Forth Opener to RiverDogs

August 18, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


CHARLESTON, WV - Calvin Mitchell went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI as West Virginia's offense scored at least one run in each of the first four innings, but it was not enough, as the Power fell, 7-6, to the Charleston RiverDogs Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park.

The Power (24-28, 61-57) started the scoring in the first. With one out and Connor Kaiser on first after reaching on a single, Mitchell stroked a two-run homer, his ninth of the season, over the right-field wall. Two batters later, Rodolfo Castro smacked his 10th long ball of the year over the right-field fence to push West Virginia to a 3-0 lead.

The RiverDogs (24-29, 57-64) answered in the second. They sent eight batters to the plate while Mitchell Hansen and David Metzgar provided the damage with back-to-back RBI singles to make it a 3-2 game.

In the bottom of the second, the Power's offense kept rolling. Lolo Sanchez hit a lead-off double and then came around to score on a Kaiser sacrifice fly to left that increased West Virginia's lead to 4-2.

Charleston responded again, however, tying the game up in the third thanks to Chris Hess' two-run homer to left off Sergio Cubilete.

Raul Hernandez then led off the third with a double. The next batter, Ryan Peurifoy, grounded one to third that Welfrin Mateo scooped up and tried to tag Hernandez with. He missed the tag and then underthrew his toss to first, allowing Hernandez to score and put the Power back in front at 5-4.

The back-and-forth affair continued in the fourth, as Hess lofted a sacrifice fly to record his third RBI of the game and knot the game at five.

West Virginia stormed right back in the fourth, with Mitchell singling with one down before Dylan Busby plated him with a double to give the Power a 6-5 lead.

Charleston took the lead for good against Ike Schlabach (6-4) in the fifth. The RiverDogs tallied the tying run on a throwing error by Schlabach when he airmailed Castro at first on a sacrifice bunt attempt from Eduardo Navas. Metzgar then sent in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to right, vaulting Charleston ahead, 7-6.

Alexander Vargas (4-1) earned the win for the RiverDogs, twirling 5.1 innings of relief work. He struck out four and allowed just one run.

Carlos Espinol (S, 4) secured the save after tossing 1.1 innings of hitless work to close out the game.

In the loss, Drew Fischer and Beau Sulser each spun a scoreless inning, ceding just one hit and striking out two.

West Virginia continues its homestand with the Charleston RiverDogs Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park, with first pitch set for 2:05 p.m. RHP Travis MacGregor (1-4, 3.36 ERA) gets the nod for the Power, while the RiverDogs counter with lefty Reiver Sanmartin (2-5, 3.92 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at www.wvpower.com and via the TuneIn Radio App and MiLB First Pitch App.

Sunday is Kidz Sunday Funday at Appalachian Power Park. Members of the West Virginia Power Sheetz Kidz Club can attend the game for free. Before the game, kids 12 and under can play catch in the outfield, and, after the game, kids can run the bases, presented by the SMART529 College Savings Program. The postgame autograph session has a special twist, as the entire Power team will be available for autographs after the contest. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit wvpower.com.

Check out the Charleston Dirty Birds Statistics

• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...

South Atlantic League Stories from August 18, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Charleston Dirty Birds Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central