Quality Cup o' Joe: Power Win 5-1
(Charleston, WV- May 11, 2015) - West Virginia ended its three-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the Charleston RiverDogs on Monday night at Appalachian Power Park. Starting pitcher Austin Coley recorded his second quality start of the season and earned the victory to snap the longest losing streak for West Virginia this season.
For the first time during the homestand, the Power plated the first run of the game. In the second, Elvis Escobar hit a solo home run over the right field wall to give West Virginia a 1-0 lead.
The Power scored three more in the third in take a 4-0 advantage in arguably the most unorthodox inning of the season. Cole Tucker and Connor Joe each reached on singles to start the inning and Jordan Luplow walked to load the bases. Taylor Gushue followed with a single to right, scoring Tucker. Michael Suchy fouled off a 1-2 pitch but catchers intereference was ruled, allowing Suchy to reach first which scored Joe. Following a bases loaded walk to Pablo Reyes, Chase Simpson hit a liner that just bounced before the glove of RiverDogs second baseman Gosuke Katoh, who turned a 4-6-2 double play, finishing with a tag of Gushue at home. The inning ended when Suchy was thrown out on the second half of a double steal.
The RiverDogs ended Coley's shutout bid in the sixth but West Virginia responded when a run of their own. Jeff Roy reached on a bunt single. Tucker followed with a single to right, moving Roy from first to third and a throwing error allowed Roy to score.
Coley (5-1) earned the victory after he surrendered one run on seven hits over six innings of work. The right hander struck out six to bump his total to a team-best 33 strikeouts this year. Luis Cedeno (3-1) suffered the loss.
Monday night's game saw the professional debut of Joe, who batted second and played first base. The 39th overall pick by the Pirates in the 2014 MLB Draft lined out on the very first pitch he saw but picked up a single in the third and scored a run. All told, Joe went 1-for-4 and also made a diving stop to prevent a run in the fifth inning.
The Power (17-13) and RiverDogs (19-12) conclude the four-game series on Tuesday morning. West Virginia will send LHP John Sever (1-1, 3.18) against Charleston RHP Joey Maher (1-1, 4.50). First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. while pregame on the Power baseball network is slated for 10:15 a.m.
Tuesday morning is the final Grand Slam School Day of the season presented by IOGA WV. Gates open for all fans at 9:30 a.m.
For tickets and additional information, visit www.wvpower.com, call (304) 344-BATS (2287) or stop by the Power box office at 601 Morris Street.