Chandler hurls career-high 8.1 innings in 4-2 win

HICKORY, N.C. (June 4, 2019) - Clay Chandler dominated the Hickory Crawdads over 8.1 innings and Onil Pena slugged his eighth home run of the season in a 4-2 win Tuesday evening at L.P. Frans Stadium.
Chandler (6-2) retired the first nine Hickory (36-22) batters he faced Tuesday, allowing his first hit to Miguel Aparicio in the fourth. The La Center, Ky., native wiggled out of back-to-back jams in the fourth and fifth before motoring his way through the eighth inning without conceding a run. The right-hander got Aparicio to pop out to start the ninth, but served up a double to Curtis Terry and a home run to Sherten Apostel that ended his outing. In total, Chandler twirled a career-best 8.1 innings, the longest start by a Power (29-29) pitcher this year, and struck out five while walking one. The South Atlantic League Midseason All-Star also picked up his seventh quality start of the season, tied with Steven Moyers for the most on the team.

West Virginia broke through against Cole Winn (0-2) in the third, as Cesar Izturis Jr. led off the frame with a hustle double on a sharp ground ball to right field. After Ryan Ramiz flew out to left, Charlie McConnell singled in Izturis Jr. for a 1-0 lead. The next batter, Keegan McGovern, sizzled a triple just inside the first base bag and into the right-field corner to score McConnell. Pena worked a walk, and Bobby Honeyman lofted a sacrifice fly to right that brought in McGovern to cap the three-run frame.
Pena added to the lead in the sixth, as he blasted his long ball to left-center off Abdiel Mendoza to make it 4-0 Power.
West Virginia concludes its three-game series with the Hickory Crawdads Wednesday morning at L.P. Frans Stadium, with first pitch set for 10:30 a.m. RHP Ryne Inman (5-4, 4.44 ERA) toes the slab for the Power, while the Crawdads send righty Tyree Thompson (1-2, 3.86 ERA) to the bump. Pregame coverage begins at 10:10 a.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.
After their road trip finale with Hickory, the Power returns home for their final first-half homestand from June 6-12 against the Greenville Drive and the Delmarva Shorebirds. The home stretch includes a Rock 105 Two for Tuesday and Thirsty Thursday, a postgame fireworks show, courtesy of the West Virginia Lottery and Suddenlink, a Kidz Sunday Funday presented by the Shawnee Park Foundation, a Family Buck Day and a Pets in the Park Night. The two highlights of the homestand begin Thursday, June 6, as West Virginia hosts Power of Pride Night, sponsored by Rainbow Pride of West Virginia and Dow Inc., where the first 500 fans can receive a special pennant giveaway. Meanwhile, the club will celebrate 15 Years of the Power, presented by Appalachian Power, Saturday, June 8, with a special player canvas giveaway available for the first 1,000 fans through the gates. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.