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Power drops fifth straight in twin bill sweep

Robles tosses seven-inning gem in opener, but Power falls in extras
Fabricio Macias went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored in the twin bill finale. (Sam Santilli)
July 25, 2018

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (July 25, 2018) - Domingo Robles turned in a brilliant start in game one, but the Intimidators walked it off in extra innings with a 6-2 triumph before outlasting a furious West Virginia rally in game two to claim an 8-7 win, completing the doubleheader sweep Wednesday evening at

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (July 25, 2018) - Domingo Robles turned in a brilliant start in game one, but the Intimidators walked it off in extra innings with a 6-2 triumph before outlasting a furious West Virginia rally in game two to claim an 8-7 win, completing the doubleheader sweep Wednesday evening at Intimidators Stadium.

GAME ONE: Kannapolis 6, West Virginia 2 (F/8)
The Intimidators (15-15, 54-43) struck first in the opening frame against Robles. Ian Dawkins and Luis Curbelo started the inning with back-to-back singles, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. Nick Madrigal then grounded into a 4-3 double play that plated Dawkins and put Kannapolis in front, 1-0.
West Virginia (13-16, 50-45) tied things up in the fifth as Rodolfo Castro ripped a triple to straightaway center to lead off the frame against Intimidators starter Drew Harrington. The next batter, Kyle Watson, lofted a sacrifice fly to right that was plenty deep enough to score Castro and knot the game at one.
Both Robles and Harrington tossed all seven regulation innings, with Robles tying his career-high in innings pitched. They both allowed just one run on five hits. Robles struck out four and walked one while Harrington fanned a pair and handed out one free pass. Robles set down 12 of the final 13 batters he faced.
In the eighth, the Power started the inning with Castro on second base. The first batter, Watson, sacrificed him over to third to bring Ryan Peurifoy to the dish. Peurifoy roped a double off William Kincanon (2-1) down the third base line to bring in Castro and make it a 2-1 West Virginia edge. 
Beau Sulser (4-7) relieved Robles in the eighth and was unable to record an out. With Tyler Frost at second base to begin the frame, Sulser uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Frost to go to third. He then walked Carlos Perez before Johan Cruz doubled in Frost to tie the game at two. After Susler intentionally walked Dawkins, Curbelo smashed his second home run of the season over the left-field fence for a walk-off grand slam, the Power's third walk-off loss of the season.
GAME TWO: Kannapolis 8, West Virginia 7 (F/7)
The Power (13-17, 50-46) touched the scoreboard first in game two, tallying two runs in the third inning. After Fabricio Macias reached on an error by the shortstop, Curbelo, Lolo Sanchez ripped a double down the left field line. Macias rumbled to third base as the left fielder, Cruz, tossed it in, but Cruz's throw airmailed the cutoff man and got by the catcher, Evan Skoug. Macias took advantage of the errant toss and scored from third to vault West Virginia to a 1-0 edge. Calvin Mitchell then ripped an RBI single to send in Sanchez, who had moved to third on Cruz's bad throw, and extend the Power's lead to 2-0. 
Kannapolis (16-15, 55-43) responded in resounding fashion in the home half of the third, however, tacking on seven runs, tied for the most runs West Virginia has allowed in an inning this season. The Intimidators sent 10 men to the plate, starting with Skoug, who singled to ignite the rally. Dawkins and Curbelo then put together back-to-back run-scoring doubles to tie the game at two. The next batter, Craig Dedelow, launched a two-run homer to right that ended Max Kranick's night and put Kannapolis up 4-2. 
Joel Cesar then replaced Kranick and walked the first batter he faced in Tate Blackman. Two batters later, Justin Yurchak and Perez connected for consecutive singles before advancing one base each on a wild pitch by Cesar. Cruz brought them both in on a soft liner to center and moved to third on an errant throw by Sanchez. He would cap the Intimidators' scoring in the frame moments later as he crossed the dish on a balk by Cesar to push Kannapolis to a 7-2 lead.
In the fifth, the Power fought back against Jhoan Quijada, as Watson kickstarted the inning with a double. Macias then singled him in and moved to second on the throw home. Quijada issued walks to Sanchez and Mitchell to load the bases before being lifted from the game for Andrew Perez.
Perez surrendered back-to-back sacrifice flies to the first two batters he saw in Oneil Cruz and Raul Hernandez, pulling West Virginia within two at 7-5 before Perez worked his way out of the inning.
The Power went right back to work against Perez in the sixth, notching a two-out run on a double from Macias to dead center that scored Watson, who walked to lead off the inning. Macias' double concluded Perez's stint on the mound, as Kannapolis summoned Jose Nin to take over with two down in the sixth. 
Nin (4-3) would not be able to slam the door though, as he ceded the game-tying single to the first batter he contended with in Sanchez, who dribbled one up the middle that Blackman could not make a clean play on. Blackman's throw came in low to Yurchak at first and got away from him momentarily, allowing Macias to scamper in and tie the game at seven. 
The Intimidators would answer in the bottom of the frame. With Elvis Escobar (0-1) on the mound, Dawkins stroked a one-out double to left. Curbelo then continued his torrid day at the plate, sneaking one into center field to score Dawkins and jump Kannapolis ahead again, 8-7.
West Virginia wraps up its four-game series against Kannapolis with a twin bill Thursday evening. First pitch of game one from Intimidators Stadium is set for 5:05 p.m. RHP Hunter Stratton (4-3, 5.25 ERA) takes the rubber in game one for the Power, while the Intimidators counter with LHP Parker Rigler (6-4, 4.31 ERA). In game two, West Virginia sends RHP Sergio Cubilete (2-4, 5.40 ERA) to the slab against Kannapolis righty Spencer Moran (0-1, 13.50 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 4:45 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. 
After their eight-game road trip, the Power returns home for their final homestand of July, with the Asheville Tourists coming to town from July 27-29. On Friday, July 27, West Virginia hosts Faith and Family Night, presented by Mako Medical Laboratories, which will feature a postgame fireworks show, presented by TransCanada and Electric 102.7, as well as pregame concerts from The Jason Lovins Band and the New Life 94.5 2018 Power Factor competition winner, The Sycomores. On Saturday, July 28, the first 1,000 fans will receive a bucket hat giveaway, courtesy of IHOP. The homestand wraps up Sunday, July 29, with a Kid's Sunday Funday. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.