West Virginia Power 6, Charleston RiverDogs 2
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A 3-run 2nd inning gave the Power the boost they needed to get past the RiverDogs in Charleston tonight. DH Justin Howard got the rally started with a walk. RF Dan Grovatt lined a single into right field, sending Howard to third base, then Grovatt stole second. CF Mel Rojas tapped a grounder to the pitcher, allowing Howard to score from third, then a ground out by C Elias Diaz brought in Grovatt with the second run of the inning. LF Andy Vasquez extended the inning with a double lined into left field, then advanced to third base on a passed ball. 3B Eric Avila brought Vasquez in from third on a single. Both SS Drew Maggi and 2B Kevin Mort were hit by pitches, loading the bases, but a ground out ended the rally.
The Power extended their lead to 4-0 in the 3rd, on back-to-back doubles by Rojas and Diaz. Maggi also doubled in the 4th, then moved to third on a ground out, and scored on a passed ball. The Power’s final run scored on a 2-out rally in the 6th. Avila walked, then reached second base on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt. Another error on Maggi’s grounder to short allowed Avila to score.
Brandon Cumpton earned the win with 5.2 innings of work. He retired the first 11 batters he faced, and zipped through the first 5 innings of the game. A single in the 4th and a walk in the 5th were the only base runners Charleston had in those 5 innings. Cumpton had a 6-0 lead going into the bottom of the 6th. He gave up a lead-off single, then got two ground outs, which moved the runner to third base. An RBI double brought in the first Charleston run. After a walk, Cumpton was relieved by Zac Fuesser. Fuesser ended the 6th with a ground out, then had to work out of a jam in the 7th. With two outs, he loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter. That threat ended when C Diaz picked the runner off first base.
Zach Foster pitched the final two innings for the Power. He gave up a run int he 8th on three singles, then retired the side in order in the 9th. The Power bats went quiet after they finished their scoring in the 6th. There was only one base runner over the last three innings, when 1B Matt Curry walked, but was erased in a double play.
