Third frame costs Power
June 5, 2008 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
Kannapolis, NC (June 5, 2008) - The Kannapolis Intimidators used a six run third inning on Thursday night to snap their six game losing skid as they came from behind to defeat the West Virginia Power 9-6 to break up West Virginia's seven game road winning streak.
The Power took an early lead by scoring twice in the first. Matt Cline scored on Jonathan Lucroy's triple and Lucroy touched home plate on Zelous Wheeler's groundout. Kannapolis cut the lead in half when Christian Marrero's groundout plated Dale Mollenhauer. Wheeler extended his hitting streak to five games in the third with an RBI single to make it a 3-1 Power lead.
Kannapolis sent 11 batters to the plate in the third and scored six times on four hits to take the lead for good. Dan Merklinger issued bases loaded walks to Jim Gallagher and Lyndon Estill to tie the game. Mollenhauer's RBI single gave the Intimidators the lead. Sergio Miranda singled in two more runs and Mollenhauer scored the final run of the inning on Cline's errant throw. Logan Johnson added to the lead with a solo homer in the sixth inning and Mark Fleisher's RBI single plated Kannapolis's final run in the eighth. West Virginia rallied for three in the ninth but it was not enough. Wheeler walked with the bases loaded to bring in Eric Farris before Cline scored on a wild pitch. Eric Fryer's sacrifice fly scored Lucroy to plate the final run of the game.
Gregory Infante (1-2) turned in four and a third scoreless innings of relief and fanned four to get the victory. Merklinger (0-5) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs on five hits while issuing four walks over two and two-thirds. Both starting pitchers failed to make it through three innings.
The Power fell to 25-34 with the loss and the Intimidators improved to 26-34 with the win. It was West Virginia first loss on the road since May 21st against Lake County. Seven Power players hit safely at least once. Cline, Wheeler and Fryer all turned in two hits a piece. Fryer extended his hitting streak to six games and has knocked in a run in four straight games.
The Power will finish the three game series against the Kannapolis Intimidators at FieldCrest Cannon Stadium on Friday night. Right hander Evan Anundsen (3-4, 4.20) will get the start for the Power and the Intimidators will counter with right hander Nathan Jones (1-7, 8.20). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 5, 2008
- RiverDogs trounce Rome - Charleston RiverDogs
- Captains Down Suns 10-6 - Lake County Captains
- Drive Rally to Complete Sweep of GreenJackets, 6-4 - Greenville Drive
- Four-Run Fourth Lifts Hoppers to Fourth Straight - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Captains cruise past Suns - Hagerstown Suns
- Legends fall to Greensboro - Lexington Legends
- Third frame costs Power - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Intimidators Snap Six-Game Losing Streak With 9-6 Win Over West Virginia - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Intimidators Snap Six-Game Losing Streak With 9-6 Win Over West Virginia - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Tourists hold on for 5-4 win - Asheville Tourists
- Augusta Drops third Straight to Greenville - Augusta GreenJackets
- Naylor shuts down Shorebirds in 6-1 BlueClaws victory - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Strong pitching propels Shorebirds - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Catfish blanked - Columbus Catfish
- Shorebirds Shut Down by Drew Naylor, Fall 6-1 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Quinn Stewart Returns to Columbus - Columbus Catfish
- RiverDogs' 9th Annual "Kindness Beats Blindness" Auction on June 14 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Rome Braves Make Roster Changes - Rome Emperors
- Tourists Making Concerted Effort By "Going Green" At McCormick Field - Asheville Tourists
- Tonight's Delmarva Shorebirds Game Postponed - Delmarva Shorebirds
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