SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power hit three homers in loss to Captains

Published on May 13, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Charleston, WV (May 13, 2008) - The West Virginia Power out-hit Lake County 11-7 and hit three homeruns on Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park but it was not enough to take down the first place Captains who came away with a 7-4 victory.

Roque Mercedes issued a bases loaded walk to Dustin Realini with nobody out in the top of the first to give the Captains the lead. Mercedes recovered quickly and retired the next three batters before West Virginia tied the game in the bottom of the first on Zelous Wheeler's sacrifice fly that plated Eric Farris. The Captains scored three times with two outs in the second inning to take the lead. Roman Pena knocked in the first run on his first of three run scoring singles and he scored along with Lucas Montero on Realini's base-hit. West Virginia's first of three solo shots came from Eric Fryer in the bottom of the second.

Jonathan Lucroy belted his fifth homer of the season in the bottom of the third to make it 4-3 but that was as close as the Power would get the rest of the night. Pena struck again with run scoring singles in the fourth and the sixth. Lucas Montero blasted a solo homer in the eighth inning to increase the Captains lead before Steffan Wilson hit his seventh homer of the season in the bottom of the eighth, but it was not enough.

Joey Mahalic (1-0) allowed three runs on seven hits and fanned five through five innings to get the win. Mercedes (1-2) was taken out after throwing 67 pitches in two innings, and allowed four runs on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts in a losing effort.

The Power fell to 14-23 with the loss and the Captains improved to 24-14 with the win. Three Power players had multi-hit games including Jonathan Lucroy who paced West Virginia with a three hit performance, coming a triple away from the cycle. Batters 5-9 in the Lake County lineup went 0-23, while batters 1-4 went 7-for-12. Power manager Jeff Isom was ejected in the fourth inning for arguing a call made at second base by umpire Kyle Bryne. It was Isom's first ejection of the season.

The Power will continue their four game series against the Lake County Captains at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday night. Left-Hander Dan Merklinger (0-2, 9.00) will get the start for the Power and the Captains will counter with left hander Kelvin De La Cruz (2-2, 2.08). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 13, 2008


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