CHARLESTON, WV - The West Virginia Power poured on the Delmarva Shorebirds on the field until an actual downpour arrived, forcing an early end to an 8-1 six-inning Power victory on Tuesday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park.Hunter Stratton (4-3) survived a bumpy beginning to win it for the Power (13-12,
CHARLESTON, WV - The West Virginia Power poured on the Delmarva Shorebirds on the field until an actual downpour arrived, forcing an early end to an 8-1 six-inning Power victory on Tuesday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park.
Hunter Stratton (4-3) survived a bumpy beginning to win it for the Power (13-12, 50-41), giving up one run on three hits over five innings while walking four and striking out two. Jhon Peluffo (3-5) suffered the loss for the Shorebirds (16-10, 51-42), allowing four runs on five hits in 3.2 frames.
Delmarva starting things off with a bang as Mason McCoy belted the fifth pitch of the game deep to left and onto Smith Street. The leadoff home run was McCoy's fourth of the season and the team's third leadoff blast. Branden Becker followed with a walk and Ryan Ripken singled two batters later, but Stratton got Trevor Craport to hit a frozen rope right at second base to get out of the jam.
The Shorebirds then drew two walks in the second, and Becker singled to load the bases, but Zach Jarrett struck out to leave three men on and get Stratton off the ropes.
The winds shifted from there as the Power tied it up in the home second. Raul Hernandez led off with a walk, then two batters later Ryan Peurifoy doubled to put men on second and third. Kyle Watson lifted a flyball to right, deep enough to score Hernandez and make it 1-1.
West Virginia broke the door down in the bottom of the fourth. Ben Bengtson singled to lead off, and Watson singled two batters later. Up came Fabricio Macias, who banged a deep flyball three-quarters of the way up the wall in right. Bengtson and Watson both scored and Macias raced into third with a two-run triple. Lolo Sanchez followed with a sac fly to left, scoring Macias to put the Power up 4-1.
The fifth inning was a similar story, this time with Delmarva's Alex Katz on the hill. Calvin Mitchell and Jesse Medrano led off with back-to-back walks, then after a strikeout, Bengtson singled to load teh bases. A wild pitch allowed Mitchell to score, then Peurifoy singled home another. Watson followed with a grounder to third, but Kirvin Moesquit's potential double play turn sailed into the crowd. Bengtson scored on what went down as an RBI fielder's choice for Watson, putting West Virginia on top 7-1.
The Power got one more across with the rainclouds swirling in the sixth. Mitchell laced a one-out double and scored two batters later on a Raul Hernandez single. After Bengtson popped out to second to end the inning, the rains picked up, and the game was called after just seven minutes of waiting.
The Shorebirds managed just three hits on the afternoon with Becker and Ripken singling to join McCoy's leadoff homer.
Watson and Macias each went 1-for-2 with a run and two RBIs in the eight- and nine-holes for the Power, while Bengtson finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
After a rare off day spent entirely at home, the Shorebirds open a four-game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Thursday night. Cameron Bishop (8-4, 2.89) will take the hill for Delmarva against a Greensboro starter to be determined. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. The first 500 fans through the gates will receive an orange and black visor, presented by Spicer Bros. Construction, Inc. It's also a Kiss 95.9 Thirsty Thursday and Maryland Pride Thursday. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 with Will DeBoer on the call.
