West Virginia Power 11, Delmarva Shorebirds 3
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West Virginia jumped out to a powerful start with 6 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. SS Drew Maggi began the rally with a walk, and he advanced to third base on RF Andy Vasquez’s single to third. CF Dan Grovatt walked to load the bases. 1B Justin Howard’s double brought in Maggi and Vasquez for the first two runs, leaving Grovatt on third base. DH Chase Lyles drove in Grovatt with a single into right field, and C Elias Diaz drove in Howard with a single grounded up the middle. A passed ball and a walk to 3B Eric Avila loaded the bases again for the Power. After a strikeout (the first out of the inning), 2B Kevin Mort grounded out, which allowed Lyles to score. The second walk to Maggi in the inning and a passed ball on ball four let Diaz score as well, and the Power had a 6-run lead.
Starter Tyler Waldron pitched 6 scoreless innings, allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks, with 2 strikeouts. He gave up one of the walks and a single, plus had a batter reach on a fielding error by Avila to load the bases, but got a pop out and a line out to get out of the jam. He loaded the bases again in the 4th with a double, a single, and a walk, but got out of that jam with a double play.
The Power added a run in the 5th inning on a triple by Maggi and a passed ball, allowing Maggi to cross the plate. LF Rogelios Noris boosted the score to 9-0 in the bottom of the 6th with a 2-run homer, following a throwing error that put Diaz on base.
Trent Stevenson relieved Waldron to begin the top of the 7th. A throwing error and a double gave the Shorebirds an unearned run. Kevin Decker pitched a scoreless 8th inning, retiring the side in order.
The Power picked up 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th. Lyles doubled into left field, then Diaz walked. A single by Avila plated Lyles. Noris bounced into a double play, which allowed Diaz to score from third base.
The Shorebirds got another 2 runs in the top of the 9th, off reliever Jason Townsend. A single and two walks loaded the bases, then Townsend walked his third straight batter, forcing in a run. An RBI single brought in the second run of the inning, before Townsend ended the game with a strike out.
POWER NOTES:
Delmarva will be hosting the South Atlantic League All-Star Game in two weeks, on June 21st. Three players will represent the Power on the Northern Division All-Star Team: P Brandon Cumpton, P Jameson Taillon, and OF Dan Grovatt. In the SAL, managers and coaches vote for the all-star players.
