CHARLESTON, W. Va. (July 17, 2019) - Mike Salvatore lofted a sacrifice fly to center in the bottom of the ninth that was just deep enough to score Julio Rodriguez, lifting West Virginia to a 4-3 walk-off win over the Columbia Fireflies Wednesday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park.Tied at three in
CHARLESTON, W. Va. (July 17, 2019) - Mike Salvatore lofted a sacrifice fly to center in the bottom of the ninth that was just deep enough to score Julio Rodriguez, lifting West Virginia to a 4-3 walk-off win over the Columbia Fireflies Wednesday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park.
Tied at three in the ninth, Julio led off the frame by taking a pitch to the helmet for a free base, and Bobby Honeyman followed with a base hit to right off Allan Winans (0-2) that put runners at the corners with no one out. After an intentional walk was issued to Austin Shenton, Jake Anchia struck out to bring Salvatore to the plate. Despite falling behind 0-2, Salvatore lifted a fly ball to center that scored Rodriguez from third to win the ballgame for West Virginia (14-13, 51-46).
Devin Sweet set the tone on the mound in the first inning, as he struck out the first two batters of the game before Mark Vientos cracked a double. The next hitter, Chase Chambers, smacked a one-hopper to Honeyman at first, who knocked the pill into the dirt and tossed to the covering Sweet, who missed the bag. Vientos attempted to score on the play, and instead was gunned down at the plate by Sweet to end the inning.
The Power got on the board in the bottom of the frame, as Matt Sanders snuck a solo homer under the scoreboard in left field for a 1-0 lead. Columbia (13-14, 37-56) answered with a run in the top of the second, as Wagner Lagrange scored on a Jose Medina RBI double to tie the game at one.
Simeon Woods-Richardson settled in after the Sanders roundtripper, as he retired the next 13 batters he faced and did not surrender another base hit until the fifth.
Sweet, on the other hand, ran into trouble in the fourth inning when he conceded a leadoff double to Lagrange, but rebounded to retire the next hitter on a flyout. Carlos Sanchez came to the plate with just one out and a runner at third and flew out to Charlie McConnell in left field, who unleashed a throw to the plate, but sailed it over the head of Anchia to the backstop. Lagrange, who originally hesitated to test the throw, committed to try and score, but was tagged out at the plate after McConnell's overthrow clanked off the bricks behind homeplate and was grabbed by Sweet, who placed the tag to end the inning.
Sweet only surrendered one more hit and silenced the Fireflies for the rest of his outing that concluded after the seventh. Reeves Martin entered in the eighth and retired the first two batters he faced. However, Martin made a 1-0 mistake to Mark Vientos, who homered to left to knot the game at two.
West Virginia jumped back in front in the home half of the eighth on a Manny Pazos sacrifice fly that scored McConnell from third and put the Power ahead 3-2. In the ninth, Dayeison Arias (2-1) made his way out of the Power pen, coming in without a blown save in seven total tries. The first batter of the inning, Shervyn Newton, cracked a solo homer over the left-field wall as the Fireflies squared the contest at three.
The Power now turns their attention to a four-game series against the first-place Delmarva Shorebirds, beginning Thursday evening at Appalachian Power Park, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. RHP Evan Johnson (first Low-A Start) toes the slab for West Virginia, while Delmarva will send RHP Gray Fenter (6-2, 2.14 ERA) to the bump. 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 Delmarva series begins with a Rock 105 Thirsty Thursday, where all fans can enjoy $2.00 cans and 20-ounce beverages. Also, college students can purchase two tickets for the price of one with a valid student ID at the Power Box Office. The Power is also hosting a canned food drive to celebrate Thanksgiving in July, with all of the donations going to Mountaineer Food Bank. Any fan who brings a non-perishable food donation will receive a free ticket voucher good for the rest of the season. The highlight of the homestand comes on Friday, July 19, with Faith and Family Night, presented by Mako Medical Laboratories and NewLife 94.5! Come experience a night of music, faith and baseball at the ballpark! Enjoy pregame concerts by Kyle Huffman, the winner of the NewLife 94.5 Power Factor competition, and Todd Agnew, as well as postgame fireworks, courtesy of TC Energy and Suddenlink! For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.
