SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power finish perfect road trip

Published on August 15, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Lexington, KY - The West Virginia Power endured a late Lexington surge at Applebee's Park on Saturday night as they held on for their 11th consecutive road victory, and finished a perfect eight game road trip with a 5-4 victory over the Legends to secure the four-game sweep.

Starling Marte ripped a one out double in the top of the second inning and scored the game's first run on Bobby Spain's first of three singles on the night. Brian Pellegrini tied the game moments later in the bottom of the second on a solo homer, his third of the series, and his 22nd of the season. West Virginia responded quickly and took the lead again in the top of the third. Greg Picart began the inning with a double and scored on Tony Sanchez's sacrifice fly. The RBI was Sanchez's 13th of the road trip. Pellegrini, as he did two innings earlier, tied the game with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the fourth as he teed off on Aaron Pribanic's 0-1 pitch for his second homer of the game.

The Power took their third lead of the night in the top of the seventh inning. The bases were loaded with one out when Austin McClune's sacrifice fly scored Danny Bomback. Pellegrini began the bottom of the inning with a double. He moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt and scored the tying run again on a wild pitch.

West Virginia regained the lead by scoring a pair of runs in the ninth inning. Spain started the inning with a base hit, and was pinch run for by Brett Willemburg. Willemburg advanced to second on Danny Bomback's groundout and scored moments later. Josue Peley dropped a bunt down on the left side of the infield where the ball was picked up by Lexington hurler Brian Wabick who made an errant throw down to first base which allowed Willemburg to score. Peley scored later in the ninth on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the inning, the Legends made it a one-run game when Willemburg dropped Russell Dixon's pop up with two outs and two men on. Steve Brown scored on the error, and the Legends had runners on second and third when Gabriel Alvarado struck out Chris Jackson to end the game.

Alvarado (6-9) allowed just a pair of runs on four hits in four innings of relief and fanned three batters in a winning effort. Wabick (6-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing a couple of runs on two hits over an inning and two-thirds. Aaron Pribanic started the contest for West Virginia and pitched five solid innings, allowing just two runs on three hits.

West Virginia improved to 54-61 overall, and 27-18 in the second half after the victory, while the Legends fell to 56-62 overall and 20-28 in the second half after the loss. Bobby Spain's three hit performance led the way for the Power while Tony Sanchez and Greg Picart turned in two hits a piece. All three players were outstanding on the trip. Picart finished the road trip with 15 hits and scored nine times. Sanchez went 13-for-25 on the trip with eight runs and 13 RBI. Pittsburgh's 2009 first overall pick has hit safely in six straight games and has driven in at least one run over his last five. Spain turned in an 8-for-15 performance on the roadie and drove in four runs. Their current eight game winning streak is their longest of the season.

West Virginia is off on Sunday but will begin a four game series with the Asheville Tourists at Appalachian Power Park on Monday night. The Power will start right hander Brian Leach (4-2, 2.85). The first pitch will be delivered at 7:05 PM.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 15, 2009


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