Allie, West Virginia Push Past Lakewood 8-3
LAKEWOOD, NJ - The West Virginia Power (29-25) broke up a tie game with a three-run eighth and held on late to take down the Lakewood BlueClaws (22-30), 8-3, in the opener of a four game series, Thursday night at FirstEnergy Park. The loss kept the BlueClaws winless against the Power in five games this season.
Tied at 3-3 after seven innings, the Power looked to the heart of the order for a boost in the eighth. With one out, Eric Wood hit an opposite field double into the right field corner and scored on a ground rule double to right off the bat of D.J. Crumlich to give West Virginia the 4-3 lead.
The wheels continued to turn and the Power continued to score runs. With two down, Junior Sosa hit a liner back to the mound that Felix Santos knocked down, but could not complete the putout and Crumlich scored to make it 5-3. Max Moroff gave the Power a three-run lead finished off the inning with an RBI single.
Stetson Allie capped off the scoring with a two-run moonshot to centerfield off of Zach Cooper to make it 8-3 in favor of the visitors. The homerun marked the 14th of the year for Allie, which moved him alone into first for the league lead.
The BlueClaws had no answer against the back end of the Power bullpen and went quietly over the final six outs.
The Power took advantage of a shaky start by Lakewood righty, Jonathan Musser and plated a run in each of the first two innings. In the first, Max Moroff and Dilson Herrera drew walks to begin the inning.
Josh Bell followed with a ground ball to second that Angelo Mora booted and allowed the first run to score. Musser regrouped and induced a double play and a fielder's choice to get out of the inning with just the one run allowed.
Raul Fortunato hit a leadoff home run in the second off of the BlueClaws righty and doubled the advantage to 2-0 for the Power.
The 'Claws were held off the board by Joely Rodriguez until the third. Mitch Walding connected for a leadoff double and Angelo Mora cut the deficit in half with an RBI single.
After an error plated a run in the sixth for West Virginia made it 3-1, the BlueClaws responded with a pair to tie it in the bottom of the frame.
Zach Taylor greeted Rodriguez with a triple to right-center and remained at third for Roman Quinn. Batting from the right side, Quinn pulled a liner to left, hit the foul pole and tied the game with his fifth home run of the season.
Musser's night ended after the sixth and the righty earned his no decision. He allowed the three runs, one earned, on three hits, five walks and a strikeout.
Santos (1-2) took the loss and gave up the three runs in two innings on five hits; he walked one and struck out two. Zach Cooper finished the game on the mound for Lakewood.
Rodriguez did not factor into the decision for West Virginia. The southpaw pitched five-plus innings and allowed all three runs, on five hits; he walked two and struck out four.
Ryan Hafner (2-0) pitched himself in line for the win with two and two-thirds scoreless and hitless innings of relief. He walked two and struck out two. Kyle Haynes earned his fourth save with an inning and one-third of relief.
Deborah Heart and Lung Center Player of the Game: Roman Quinn (LWD): 2-3, HR, 2RBI, BB
The BlueClaws and Power will get back to the diamond, and resume the four game series, with game two, Friday night at 7:05 pm from FirstEnergy Park. RHP Shane Watson (3-4, 5.44) gets the start for Lakewood and will be opposed by LHP Orlando Castro (5-3, 2.10) of the Power.