Power Take First Half Finale 5-3
June 17, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
The West Virginia Power edged the Hagerstown Suns on Sunday afternoon in a 5-3 final. The Suns rallied to tie the game at three in the seventh, but the Power regained the advantage for good in the home half of the inning to win their second straight.
Nick Kingham made the start for West Virginia and pitched well over the first five innings. The Power gave Kingham a lead to work with by scoring three runs in the fourth. Willy Garcia walked to lead off the inning and moved to third on a Dan Gamache single. Jose Osuna singled in Garcia for a 1-0 lead. After a run scored on a double play, Eric Avila tripled in Osuna to cap off the inning.
The Suns broke up the shutout in the sixth. With one out and a runner at second, Zac Fusser relieved Kingham and allowed a sacrifice fly. In the top of the seventh, Brian Goodwin hit a two-run home run off Fuesser to even the score at three.
The Power would respond quickly, however, with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Avila doubled and scored on Alen Hanson's league-leading eighth triple. Taylor Lewis followed with a single against a drawn in infield to bring home Hanson to close the scoring at 5-3.
Kingham struck out a season-high seven, but did not factor in the decision. Fuesser (1-5) garnered the run support and the win. Vince Payne pitched a scoreless eighth for his first hold and Rinku Singh followed in the ninth for his fir save of the season. Pedro Encarnacion allowed both seventh inning runs and was charged with the loss for Hagerstown. Lewis, Gamache, Osuna, and Avila had two hits apiece to help the Power earn a split of this four game series.
West Virginia will be idle for the next three days for the South Atlantic League All-Star break. Hanson will be joined by Gregory Polanco and Matt Benedict in the mid-season showcase of talent at the Charleston RiverDogs Joseph P. Riley Jr, Park in South Carolina. The Power will host the Lexington Legends on Thursday night for the opening game of the second half of the season.
POWER RECORD: 23-47
South Atlantic League Stories from June 17, 2012
- RiverDogs Can't Solve Hodges in First Half Finale - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Lose First Half Finale, 4-3 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Sand Gnats Complete Four Game Sweep - Rome Emperors
- Late Rallies Fall Short in 4-3 Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- Power Take First Half Finale 5-3 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- First-Rounders Shine in First Half Finale - Hagerstown Suns
- Legends Shut out Tourists 2-0 to End First Half of Season - Lexington Legends
- Drive Conclude First Half with 4-3 Win - Greenville Drive
- 'Claws Beat 'Dads 6-1 on Father's Day - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- 'Dads Fall in First-Half Finale in Lakewood - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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