SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Escapes 5-0 Deficit in 9-6 Victory

Published on August 13, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


The West Virginia Power beat the Greensboro Grasshoppers 9-6 on Monday at Appalachian Power Park. The Grasshoppers took a 5-0 lead after three-and-a-half innings, but the Power scored three runs three different innings to rally back and take a win in the series opener.

Greensboro, winners of six straight, gained a 1-0 lead against West Virginia starter Zack Von Rosenberg in the second inning on a solo home run by Matt Smith. In the top of the fourth, Von Rosenberg walked the first three batters of the inning. All three runners scored, as did James Wooster who had singled in a run, to build a 5-0 advantage and knocked the Power starter from the game. Orlando Castro retired the final two batters with two men on base to end the threat.

West Virginia answered withthree in the bottom of the fourth. Dan Gamache doubled and scored on a single by Chris Lashmet. Eric Avila doubled home Lashmet and then scored on a single by Francisco Diaz to put the Power down 5-3.

In the fifth, West Virginia plated three to take a 6-5 lead. The Power loaded the bases against Grasshoppers starter Andrew Heaney. The southpaw, making his South Atlantic League debut, left in line for the win but was responsible for all three runners on base with no one out. Jose Osuna brought home one run with a groundout. After Lashmet was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Avila singled in a pair to push West Virginia ahead 6-5.

The Power added three in the seventh as well to take a 9-5 lead. An Avila double drove in his fourth run of the game. Diaz followed with a ground rule double that bounced over the high wall in right to extend the lead to four runs and cap West Virginia's scoring.

Greensboro managed its' final run in the top of the ninth inning.

Castro (3-6) earned the victory with three innings of shutout relief while Heaney (0-1) was charged with the loss after giving up the first six runs West Virginia scored. Eight of the nine Power position players had at least one hit and three had multi-hit games, led by a three hit, four RBI night from Avila.

West Virginia and Greensboro continue this three game series on Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park. Nick Kingham will pitch for the Power at 7:05 pm and will square off with spot starter Jake Esch for the Grasshoppers.

SECOND HALF RECORD: 28-22

OVERALL RECORD: 51-69

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 13, 2012


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