Power scores six unanswered runs to take finale

CHARLESTON, S.C. (August 22, 2019) - After being held scoreless for 13 consecutive innings, West Virginia's offense came alive late Thursday evening, tallying six runs from the sixth to the eighth inning to pull away from the Charleston RiverDogs in a 6-1 win at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.
Josias De Los Santos created some trouble for himself early on, walking four batters over the first two innings, but did not allow a hit and evaded any damage. However, the RiverDogs (30-29, 67-62) pounced on the Power starter in the third, as Josh Breaux scorched a two-out homer to deep left-center field that gave Charleston a 1-0 lead. 

Meanwhile, West Virginia's lineup struggled mightily against Yoendrys Gomez, mustering just one hit against the right-hander over six innings. Gomez kept the Power (27-32, 64-65) off the scoreboard until the sixth, when Manny Pazos worked his way aboard via a walk and came around to score on a sacrifice bunt from Billy Cooke, a fly out by Caleb Ricca and a wild pitch, tying the game at one.
De Los Santos took a seat after five innings of work, seeing his three-game quality start streak come to a close. Though he only ceded one hit on the Breaux homer and struck out seven men, the righty allowed a career-high six walks, which elevated his pitch count to 84 after five frames. 
Gomez exited with a quality start in hand, as the right-hander fired six strong innings and struck out a season high-tying eight batters while only coughing up one hit, a second-inning single to Nick Rodriguez.
Reeves Martin (3-0) collected a shutdown inning in the sixth, maneuvering around a one-out single by fanning Frederick Cuevas and Welfrin Mateo to retire the side. 
Keegan Curtis (2-1), the first man out of the Charleston bullpen, labored immediately in the seventh, serving up a leadoff double to Matt Sanders and walking Onil Pena. After Charlie McConnell grounded into a fielder's choice that put runners at the corners with one down, Rodriguez rifled an infield single to third that brought in Sanders from third and pushed the Power ahead 2-1. Curtis battled back to set down DeAires Moses on strikes for the second out, but then issued a single to Dean Nevarez and a bases-loaded walk to Cooke that plated another run to make it 3-1.
West Virginia kept hacking away at the RiverDogs relief corps, as they tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth against Ron Marinaccio. With one down in the frame, Sanders sliced a single to left and Pena got a free pass to first that put two on for McConnell. The Power right fielder also earned a base on balls to load the bags for Rodriguez, who lofted a sacrifice fly to right that scored Sanders. The next batter, Moses, smacked a triple to right that sent in Pena and McConnell to stretch the lead to 6-1. 
Martin, who notched a 1-2-3 seventh, ceded the bump to Elias Espino in the bottom of the eighth. Espino spiraled two sterling innings of work to close out the ballgame, conceding just two walks and striking out two. The bullpen was stellar throughout the entire series against Charleston, giving up one earned run over 13.1 innings (0.68 ERA).
West Virginia now heads back home to begin their penultimate homestand Friday evening, as they welcome the Lakewood BlueClaws to town for a three-game series at Appalachian Power Park. First pitch of game one Friday night is set for 7:05 p.m. RHP Matt Martin (0-0, 0.00 ERA) toes the rubber for the Power, while Lakewood counters with southpaw Manuel Silva (5-5, 4.01 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.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.
The Power returns to Appalachian Power Park on Friday, August 23, and kicks off their weekend series with Pioneer WV Federal Credit Union Night, which features our second-to-last postgame fireworks show of the season! It's also WOWK Night at the ballpark, where WOWK news anchors will sign autographs pregame and Spencer Adkins will throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Following the final out, fans will get a sneak peek at the upcoming CBS fall lineup on the videoboard. On Saturday, the first 1,000 fans through the gates, which open at 4:30 p.m., will receive a Cole Tucker bobblehead giveaway, courtesy of the Charleston Building and Construction Trades Council. Also, all fans can enjoy a pregame concert by Rel-X from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the GetGoWV stage, with happy hour specials available at the Budweiser Dugout Bar! For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.