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Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Falls in Extras Despite Rodriguez's Late Homer

June 20, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


LAKEWOOD, N.J. - After giving up an early 3-0 lead, West Virginia fought back to tie the game at four in the eighth on Julio Rodriguez's solo home run, but it was not enough to hold off the Lakewood BlueClaws, who walked it off in 10 innings to claim a 5-4 win Thursday evening at FirstEnergy Park.

The Power (0-1, 37-34) broke through against Lakewood (1-0, 30-41) starter Dominic Pipkin in the second inning, tagging the 19-year-old with three runs and ending his night early after just 1.1 innings. With one down in the frame, Onil Pena worked a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Charlie McConnell then stung a single to right field that plated Pena for a 1-0 West Virginia lead. Jake Anchia followed with a base hit to put runners at first and second. The next batter, Utah Jones, roped a double into the right-field corner that scored McConnell, while Ryan Ramiz blooped a single in between Luis Garcia and Carlos De La Cruz in shallow right, bringing in Anchia to extend the lead to 3-0.

Ryne Inman whizzed through the first two innings, allowing just one hit, a leadoff double to Jonathan Guzman in the first. However, things caved in on Inman in the third, as the right-hander plunked the first batter he faced in Malvin Matos, who had to leave the game due to an undisclosed injury. Pinch-runner Yerwin Trejo stole second, while Guzman got a free pass and Rafael Marchan singled to load the bases. Luis Garcia stepped up and drilled a 2-0 pitch over the right-field fence for a grand slam, clearing the bases and giving Lakewood a 4-3 edge.

Inman settled down after that rough frame, maneuvering through five innings overall and surrendering four runs on four hits while striking out four and walking two. David Ellingson relieved him in the sixth and spun two brilliant innings, ceding one hit.

Meanwhile, Luis Carrasco and Jhordany Mezquita subdued the Power through the seventh, coughing up just two hits. In the eighth, however, Mezquita hung a 1-0 pitch to Rodriguez, who deposited it on top of the center-field fence for his second home run of the season, tying the game at four.

Sal Biasi (5-2) spun a hitless eighth and ninth for West Virginia, sending the game to extra innings.

Gilmael Troya (2-0) was able to strand the Power's placed on runner, Jones, at third base, after Ramiz moved him 90 feet away with a groundout to start the top of the 10th. In the home half of the frame, Guzman, the BlueClaws' placed on runner, swiped third as Marchan went down swinging. Biasi then intentionally walked Garcia to create a double play situation with one down, but Abrahan Gutierrez lofted a fly ball deep enough into right field to score Guzman and send Lakewood to a 5-4 win.

West Virginia continues its four-game series against the Lakewood BlueClaws Friday evening at FirstEnergy Park, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. RHP Devin Sweet (3-2, 3.54 ERA) toes the rubber for the Power, while the BlueClaws go with righty Victor Santos (3-6, 3.46 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at wvpower.com and via the TuneIn Radio App and MiLB First Pitch App.

The Power returns to Appalachian Power Park on Thursday, June 27, to begin a seven-game homestand against the Kannapolis Intimidators and Hickory Crawdads. It's Wheelers Weekend in downtown Charleston, with West Virginia honoring their former moniker over a three-day stretch from June 28-30. On June 29, the first 1,000 fans will receive a Dan Wilson replica Wheelers jersey giveaway! For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.

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