SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

West Virginia Sweeps Doubleheader

Published on April 10, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


West Virginia swept a doubleheader with Savannah Sunday afternoon, winning 9-1 in game one and taking game two by a 2-0 final. The Power and Sand Gnats had not played since the season opener on Thursday evening.

West Virginia took an early lead in game one when Drew Maggi scored on a single by Matt Curry during the home half of the first, but Savannah tied the game in the very next half inning on back-to-back doubles by Javier Rodriguez and Blake Forsythe.

Game one remained even until the fourth inning. Curry walked and Eric Avila lined the first pitch he saw off of the pitching arm of Sand Gnats starting pitcher Ryan Fraser. Fraser attempted to pick up the ball and throw Avila out at first, but instead saw his errant throw role down the right field line. This miscue put runners at first and third as Fraser left the game with an injury. Guillaume Leduc came on in relief, retired Justin Howard on strikes, and then allowed four consecutive base hits before hitting a batter. The Power plated seven runs in all during the inning, including Curry for the eventual winning run on a wild pitch.

In the sixth, Curry hit the first Power home run of the season to close out the scoring.

Tyler Waldron (1-0) gained the win with five innings of five-hit ball, while Fraser (0-1) was charged with the loss. Curry and Andy Vasquez had three hits each for West Virginia, and Curry led the club with four runs batted in.

Game two was quickly paced as Zack Dodson and Yohan Almote matched zeros over the first four innings for the Power and Sand Gnats, respectively. Dodson used 19 pitches total to get through three innings, and needed 19 more to make it through the fourth unscathed.

In the home half of the fifth inning, Avila and Dan Grovatt reached on consecutive singles and were moved to second and third when Almonte was charged with a balk. With Kevin Mort at the plate, Almonte tossed a wild pitch to allow the eventual winning run to score for a 1-0 West Virginia lead. Mort followed with a single through a drawn in Savannah infield to drive in Grovatt.

Dodson (1-0) work five scoreless innings for the win, and Ryan Beckman pitched twp perfect innings for the save to complete the shutout. Almonte (0-1) took the los despite earning a six-inning complete game.

Game one lasted two hours and 21 minutes, while game two took a mere one hour and 18 minutes.

West Virginia opens a four game series with Asheville on Monday evening at Appalachian Power Park. Gates will open at 6:00 pm with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.

POWER RECORD: 2-1

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 10, 2011


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