Power lose 8-6 to Hagerstown
June 14, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
The West Virginia Power lost 8-6 to the Hagerstown Suns Thursday evening at Appalachian Power Park. The Suns rallied for three runs in the seventh to take the series opener.
West Virginia held a 2-0 lead after one inning thanks to solo home runs by Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco. Each player hit their tenth home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning against Hagerstown starter Taylor Hill.
The Suns evened the score with a pair of runs off Robby Rowland in the second inning and added three runs in the top of the fourth for a 5-2 lead. West Virginia responded with a four-run fourth to regain the lead. Polanco reached on an error, stole second, and scored on a double by Willy Garcia. After Dan Gamache walked, both runners advanced into scoring position on a balk. Garcia scored on a ground out by Jose Osuna. Taylor Lewis, making his South Atlantic League debut, hit a 1-0 pitch over the right field wall for a two-run homer and a 6-5 Power lead.
In the seventh, West Virginia reliever Mike Jefferson walked the bases loaded and surrendered a bases-clearing triple to Caleb Ramsey to put the Suns back in front for good at 8-6.
The Power loaded the bases on three walks in the bottom of the eighth, but could not push any runs across before being set down in order in the ninth.
Jefferson (2-5) took the loss for West Virginia. Ben Hawkins (2-0) pitched two and two-thirds scoreless innings of relief and garnered this win. Aaron Barrett pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save.
West Virginia managed just four hits, three of which were home runs, in the loss and are now guaranteed of no better than a .500 record at home during the first half of the 2012 season.
West Virginia and Hagerstown continue this series on Friday evening at Appalachian Power Park. Matt Benedict will start for the Power against the Suns Bobby Hansen Jr. at 7:05 pm.
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