Three-run ninth not enough in series finale loss

ROME, GA (August 13, 2018) - West Virginia rallied to take the lead with three runs in the top of the ninth, but Rome matched their effort in the home half and walked it off in a 5-4 win Monday night at State Mutual Stadium.
The Power (23-26, 60-55) started their rally with Rafelin Lorenzo, who reached on an error to begin the frame against Zach Daniels (1-0). Kyle Watson then pinch ran for the catcher. After Ryan Peurifoy sacrificed Watson to second and Ben Bengtson walked, Calvin Mitchell pinch hit for Fabricio Macias and knocked in his 50th RBI of the season with a liner to right that scored Watson, knotting the game at two.

Oneil Cruz then moved runners to the corners with two away for Lolo Sanchez, who beat out an infield single to Marcos Almonte at third. The throw ended up wide of the bag, scoring Bengtson from third and Cruz all the way from first to give West Virginia a 4-2 lead.
After that, it was Rome's turn. AJ Graffanino led off the inning for the Braves (23-26, 63-55) with a double. Jefrey Ramos then walked before Drew Lugbauer knocked in Graffanino to make it a one-run game. Next, Drew Fischer (2-2) hit Trey Harris with a pitch to load the bases. Fischer battled back to strike out Brendan Venter for the first out, but Almonte poked the game-winning single into right to give Rome a 5-4 victory.
West Virginia gave Ike Schlabach the lead before he toed the rubber in the first. Sanchez walked with one out and moved to third on a Raul Hernandez double. With two outs, Robbie Glendinning poked a single over short to score Sanchez and vault the Power to a 1-0 edge. 
Hernandez finished the evening 3-for-4 with a double and a walk. In the month of August, Hernandez is now averaging .559 (19-for-34). 
The Braves knotted it up in the bottom of the inning. Schlabach walked Justin Dean and then allowed singles from Graffanino and Ramos to start the frame. Schlabach battled back though, allowing only one run on a Harris sacrifice fly to score Dean that tied the game at one.
Rome was not done there. Dean came up to the plate with two away in the bottom of the second and blooped a single down the right-field line to score Hagen Owenby and push the Braves ahead 2-1.
Samuel Reyes spun his way in and out of trouble multiple times over his three innings of work. He did not allow a run, but ceded three hits and fanned one batter.
After Reyes, John Pomeroy offered a scoreless inning for West Virginia with a pair of strikeouts. Pomeroy has now tallied four strikeouts in two scoreless innings of work since joining the Power.
Alan Rangel continued to dominate the South Atlantic League. The reigning South Atlantic League Player of the Week worked 7.1 innings and gave up just the first-inning run against West Virginia. 
Following an off day Tuesday, West Virginia returns home to take on the Columbia Fireflies Wednesday night with first pitch from Appalachian Power Park set for 7:05 p.m. Max Kranick (3-4, 4.22 ERA) takes the bump for the Power, while the Fireflies counter with righty Zach Grotz (1-5, 5.98 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at www.wvpower.com and via the TuneIn Radio App and MiLB First Pitch App.
The Power returns home Wednesday, August 15, for the start of a seven-game homestand against the Columbia Fireflies and Charleston River Dogs. The homestand begins with Pets in the Park Night August 15 and ends with a Rock 105 Two for Tuesday August 21. The home stretch is highlighted with a Trevor Hoffman figurine giveaway as a part of the Power's Wheelers Weekend celebration August 18. The first 1,000 fans will receive the figurine, courtesy of Charleston Building and Construction Trades Council. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit wvpower.com.