Down to Two: Power beat GreenJackets 5-1

West Virginia's magic number at two following Friday win

By Mike Baggerman

August 28, 2015

(Charleston, W.V. - August 28, 2015) - West Virginia lowered its magic number to two after a 5-1 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets on Friday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium. With the victory, the Power can clinch a postseason birth on Saturday at Appalachian Power Park.

After being held scoreless over the first three innings, West Virginia erupted for five runs in the fourth inning. Michael Suchy hit an infield single and reached second on a one-out base knock from Elvis Escobar. After Chase Simpson singled on a ball that deflected off the Augusta second baseman, Suchy scored to make it 1-0 Power. Francisco Diaz hit a single up the middle to plate Escobar. With two outs and two men in scoring position, Kevin Newman laced a two-run triple to right-center field to make it 4-0 West Virginia. Newman later scored on a wild pitch to end the five-run fourth.

Augusta scored one run in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Matt Pare singled and scored on an Andrew Cain RBI double.

Alex McRae (7-9) earned the victory with six innings of one-run ball. The right hander allowed five hits and walked one while collecting four strikeouts. It was the first quality start for McRae on the road since June 16 and his first win away from Charleston since May 20. D.J. Snelten (5-5) suffered the loss with five runs over four innings. Jose Regalado and Julio Vivas combined for three innings in relief to finish the night for Power pitchers.

Power catcher Francisco Diaz extended his hit streak to 11 games with a bunt single in the third inning. The 11-game hit streak is one shy of his career-high which he set in the 2012 season.

West Virginia (42-18, 79-50) concluded the four-game series at Augusta (29-30, 62-66) with a series victory and return to Appalachian Power Park on Saturday for the final homestand of the series against the Lexington Legends. RHP Colten Brewer (4-9, 5.03) will take the hill for West Virginia against Lexington RHP Yunior Marte (4-3, 6.41). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. while pregame on Charleston's ESPN Radio 104.5 FM and 1490, the Power website, and the TuneIn Radio App is slated for 6:45 p.m.

Saturday's game is the 1960 Pirates World Series Championship Celebration which includes a Bill Mazeroski bobblehead courtesy of AARP and 58 WCHS and it will be given to the first 1,000 fans through the gates of Appalachian Power Park. After Saturday's game, fans can take in the final fireworks show of the 2015 regular season.

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.