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Late-Inning Rallies Sting Curve; Power Explode in Late Innings

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West Virginia Power �11, � Asheville Tourists �2 (box)

Every member of the Marauders’ line up had at least one hit, and all but two scored at least one run, but most of that came in the 7th and 8th innings, when the Power bats started booming. �RF David Rubinstein had doubled, singled, and walked, and LF Rogelios Noris and SS Benji Gonzalez had singled in the early innings, but none of them made it around to score.

Power Starter Jason Erickson pitched 6 scoreless innings, striking out 8 batters and scattering 4 hits, no walks, over those innings. �He was the pitcher of record when the fun began in the top of the 7th. �C Ramon Cabrera got things going with a single lined into center field, then stole second base. �3B Jesus Brito was hit by a pitch, then DH Jose Hernandez singled, driving in Cabrera. �Benji Gonzalez singled, to bring in Brito. then Gonzalez stole second base. �A walk by CF Evan Chambers loaded the bases for 2B Jarek Cunningham. Cunningham brought everyone in with a grand slam, and the Power had a 6-0 lead.

Chambers almost matched Cunningham in the 8th. �Cabrera led off again, with another single, and Noris also singled. �Brito drove both of them in with a triple into center field. �A walk to Benji Gonzalez put two runners on for Chambers, who blasted a 3-run homer, giving the Power an 11-0 lead.

Gabriel Alvarado relieved Erickson to begin the 7th inning. �Alvarado gave up a single in the 7th, but worked around him to end the inning. �He walked the lead-off batter in the 9th, but erased him with a double play. �Alvarado gave up the only two Asheville runs in the bottom of the 9th, on a double, a single, a sacrifice fly, and then another double.

Bradenton Marauders �4, �Brevard County Manatees �3 (box)

A two-out rally in the 7th inning gave the Marauders the win. �C Eric Fryer doubled in SS Greg Picart, who had singled, to give Bradenton the go-ahead run. �Fryer went 3-for-3 after entering the game in the bottom of the 1st, taking over behind the plate for James Skelton, who moved to second base as the infield had to shift all around when SS Brock Holt and 2B Adenson Chourio were removed from the game — no indication yet as to why they were removed.

The Marauders scored their first three runs in the 3rd inning, when 1B Erik Huber led off with a double into right field. �Fryer singled, and CF Robbie Grossman drove in both Huber and Fryer with a double. �LF Quincy Latimore followed with a single that brought in Grossman. � Fryer added a double in the 5th, but was left on base.

Hunter Strickland made the start for the Marauders. �He gave up one run in the bottom of the 1st on three singles. �Strickland allowed only one base runner over the next three innings — a walk, and that runner was then caught stealing. �In the 5th, Strickland allowed 2 more runs, on a walk and a 2-run homer, to tie the game. �Casey Erickson finished the 5th inning for Strickland, then pitched a scoreless 6th. �He got two outs in the 7th, then gave up a single, and was relieved by Tom Boleska.

Boleska finished the 7th, and began the 8th with a ground out, then a single and a walk. �That brought in Noah Krol, who earned his 15th save of the season by retiring all 5 batters he faced.

C Tony Sanchez continues to sit out as he is getting over being hit in the head by a pitch a few days ago.

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