Power Start Strong, Topple RiverDogs 9-2

Published on August 20, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release

The West Virginia Power beat the Charleston RiverDogs 9-2 on Monday evening at Appalachian Power Park. The Power held a 5-0 lead after two innings and the pitching staff limited the RiverDogs to a pair of runs on six hits to open a seven game homestand with a victory.

In the bottom of the first, Francisco Aponte singled and scored on a ground rule double by Dan Gamache. After s ingle by Jose Osuna, Eric Avila doubled in both baserunners for a 3-0 advantage. West Virginia would add two runs in the bottom of the second on a single by Alen Hanson to extend their edge to five runs.

Power starter Mike Jefferson was perfect over the first three innings before allowing a leadoff triple by Ben Gamel in the fourth. Gamel scored on an Ali Castillo ground out to put Charleston on the scoreboard.

In the sixth, Willy Garcia hit a solo home run to left to extend the Power lead back to five runs at 6-1.

The RiverDogs tallied their final run against reliever Emmanuel De Leon in the top of the eight, but the Power answered with a three run home run by Garcia in the bottom half of the inning. The Power right fielder became the second player this season to hit two home runs in a game. Gregory Polanco hit two out at Lexington on August ninth to become the first player in over two years with a multi-homer game.

Jefferson (5-7) pitched six innings for the win, allowing just one run on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Corey Black (1-2) allowed the first five runs for Charleston and took the loss in his third South Atlantic League appearance.

West Virginia's nine runs came on 14 hits and two RiverDogs' errors and helped the Power win their third straight. Garcia had three hits and led the team with four runs batted in while Aponte added three hits as well.

The Power win coupled with a Hagerstown loss moved West Virginia within a half game of first place heading into Tuesday's action. The Power and RiverDogs will play game two of this three-game set at 7:05 Tuesday night. Robby Rowland looks for his ninth win and will square off against Scottie Allen at Appalachian Power Park.

SECOND HALF RECORD: 32-25

OVERALL RECORD: 55-72

South Atlantic League Stories from August 20, 2012

• Garcia Supplies Power as RiverDogs Fall 9-2 - Charleston RiverDogs
• Errors Haunt Suns in 11-4 Loss to Kannapolis - Hagerstown Suns
• Tourists Come Back to Defeat Gnats 5-2 - Savannah Sand Gnats
• Greensboro's Esch One-Hits Legends in 5-1 Victory - Lexington Legends
• Franco Walk-Off Homer Wins It, 6-4 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• 'Dads Chop Braves with 5-1 Win - Hickory Crawdads
• Power Start Strong, Topple RiverDogs 9-2 - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Shorebirds Fall 6-4 on Ninth Inning Homer - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Five-Run First Inning Dims the Suns - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Drive Drop Series Opener to GreenJackets, 4-1 - Greenville Drive
• Krill, Blackburn Power Augusta to 4-1 Win - Augusta GreenJackets
• Celebrity Dinner at Three Rivers Club - Rome Emperors
• Crawdads Weekly - 'Dads Battle Braves in Three-Game Series - Hickory Crawdads
• Legends' Home Stand Opens Tonight - Lexington Legends
• Avila Named Player of the Week - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Intimidators Announce 2013 Schedule - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Holland Placed on DL - Rome Emperors

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