Two-Out Woes Sting Wheelers in 6-4 Loss
June 29, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release
CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Onil Pena crushed a pair of doubles, but the Charleston Wheelers were outslugged by the Kannapolis Intimidators, 6-4, Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park.
For the second straight game, Kannapolis (6-4, 34-44) struck for a run in the first inning on a solo homer, this time from Alex Destino with two outs, giving them a 1-0 lead. Charleston (4-6, 41-39) responded in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs on a Bobby Honeyman RBI double and a David Sheaffer run-scoring groundout to take a 2-1 lead.
After a scoreless second, Kannapolis tied the game in the third on an unusual inside-the-park home run, as Lenyn Sosa lined a ball right at Julio Rodriguez, who lost it in the sun as it sailed past him all the way to the wall. Destino followed that up with another bomb to put the Intimidators back on top 3-2.
David Sheaffer started a rally in the fourth with a base hit and quickly scored on a Pena double down the left-field line to tie the game at three. Jake Anchia extended the inning with a bloop base hit into right field that put runners at the corners and set the stage for Utah Jones, who delivered with an RBI single into left that placed the Wheelers in front 4-3.
Charleston held that lead until the sixth, when a Romy Gonzalez RBI double tied the game at four and brought Clay Chandler's start to a close. David Ellingson (3-3) entered in relief and wiggled out of the sixth, but ran into some trouble of his own in the seventh. Ellingson induced a groundout and a strikeout from the first two Intimidators he faced, but three straight Kannapolis hits put the Intimidators ahead 6-4.
Wyatt Burns (2-0) twirled three brilliant innings out of the pen, allowing just one hit while punching out four.
Tyler Watson (S,1) worked a hitless eighth before leading off the ninth by issuing a walk to Pena, who advanced into scoring position on defensive indifference with the Wheelers down to their final out. Jones stepped to the plate and sent a slow roller to the left side of the infield, where a bobble brought third baseman Johan Cruz into the baseline as he collided with Pena. The play prompted a runner's interference call to end the game and give Kannapolis a 6-4 win.
The Power concludes their four-game series against the Intimidators Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park, with first pitch set for 2:05 p.m. RHP Ryne Inman (7-5, 4.50 ERA) toes the slab for West Virginia, while Kannapolis will send righty Davis Martin (4-7, 6.27 ERA) to the slab. Pregame coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at wvpower.com and via the TuneIn Radio App and MiLB First Pitch App.
Sunday is another Kidz Sunday Funday at the ballpark, where kids ages 12 and younger can run the bases after the final out, courtesy of the SMART529 College Savings Program, as well as play catch in the outfield before the game. Additionally, select Power players will be available for postgame autographs. All Kidz Sunday Fundays are presented by the Shawnee Park Foundation. Also, if you are a member of the Power Kidz Club, you can get free tickets from Sheetz. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 29, 2019
- Drive Fall to Braves on Saturday - Greenville Drive
- Two-Out Woes Sting Wheelers in 6-4 Loss - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Early Barrage Enough as Dogs Take Series Lead - Charleston RiverDogs
- Suns Snap Skid with 2-1 Win - Hagerstown Suns
- Montano Breaks out in Loss to RiverDogs - Asheville Tourists
- Destino's Big Day Gives Kannapolis Second Straight Victory - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Suns Sneak By, Snap 'Birds Streak - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Fireflies' Shut-Out Streak Snapped in Battle against Crawdads - Columbia Fireflies
- Early Offense Fuels 4-1 GreenJackets Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes: June 29 vs. Hickory (Game 76) - Columbia Fireflies
- Charleston Wheelers: Game Notes (June 29) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hagerstown Suns: Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Shewmake drives in game-winner - Rome Emperors
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