CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Power scored four runs in the fourth inning and briefly took the lead, but the Charleston RiverDogs stormed back with four in the fifth and won 7-5 in the opener of a four-game series Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park.
In the top of the fifth, Austin Aune belted a two-run triple to right field to give the RiverDogs a 5-4 advantage. Later in the frame, Aune scored on a wild pitch and Jorge Mateo doubled home another run to increase the lead to 7-4.
Charleston (18-11) got on the board first with two runs in the first inning. Connor Spencer hit an RBI single to right and Dustin Fowler swiped home. The RiverDogs added another run in the third when Fowler scored his second run of the game on a passed ball.
A four-run bottom of the fourth for West Virginia (16-12) got the home crowd fired up. Michael Suchy picked up an RBI on an infield single to the pitcher Andre Del Bosque. The next batter Chase Simpson grounded out to short, scoring Taylor Gushue from third base. Three batters later, Jeff Roy hit a double to right that scored two runs. Del Bosque exited the game after Roy’s RBI double with West Virginia leading 4-3.
The Power added one more run to their total in the sixth inning. Trace Tam Sing hit a sacrifice fly to right field and Simpson came home to score.
David Palladino (1-1) was nearly flawless as he pitched through the eighth inning in relief of Del Bosque. The righty held West Virginia to just one run on one hit and earned his first win of the season. Jake Burnette (1-3) replaced West Virginia starter Alex McRae and took the loss, giving up the four runs to Charleston in the fifth inning. Dillon McNamara retired the side in order in the ninth to record his second save.
The RiverDogs tied a season-high with eight stolen bases in the game, four by Jorge Mateo who tied his career-high for the second time this season. The RiverDogs last stole eight bases on April 12 against Lexington and Mateo swiped four in that game as well.
Box Score: http://atmilb.com/1zTF4jq
COMING UP: The RiverDogs continue their four-game series in West Virginia with a Sunday matinee at 2:05 p.m. Charleston will send LHP Jordan Montgomery (3-2, 2.96 ERA) to the mound against RHP Colten Brewer (0-0, 0.00 ERA) for the Power. You can watch listen to the action on “The Big Talker” 1250 WTMA, WTMA.com, and RiverDogs.com.
Charleston remains on the road for four more games before returning home to The Joe for a four-game, weekend series against the Greenville Drive. The four games will feature a Budweiser Thirsty Thursday, Home Telecom Fireworks on Friday, the Run Forrest Run 5K on Saturday, and Boeing Employee Appreciation Day on Sunday.
-RIVERDOGS-
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