Bengtson's blast lifts Power over Legends

Cesar and Seelinger spin four scoreless frames of relief in 4-2 win

Ben Bengtson has homered in both games of West Virginia's series against the Lexington Legends. (Sam Santilli)

By John Kocsis

April 28, 2018

LEXINGTON, KY (April 28, 2018) - Ben Bengtson's fourth-inning homer proved to be the difference for the Power, while a strong start from Ike Schlabach was backed up by four scoreless frames of relief from Joel Cesar and Matt Seelinger to secure a 4-2 victory for West Virginia over the Lexington Legends at

LEXINGTON, KY (April 28, 2018) - Ben Bengtson's fourth-inning homer proved to be the difference for the Power, while a strong start from Ike Schlabach was backed up by four scoreless frames of relief from Joel Cesar and Matt Seelinger to secure a 4-2 victory for West Virginia over the Lexington Legends at Whitaker Bank Ballpark on Saturday evening. The Power have now won three consecutive games dating back to August 26 against the Rome Braves.
Bengtson put the Power in front for good with his fourth-inning solo shot, as he stroked his second homer in as many games to right field. Bengtson finished the evening 2-for-4 with a single and the aforementioned long ball.

Schlabach (1-0) totaled five innings and struck out a pair while allowing just two runs, both of which Lexington (11-10) tallied in the opening inning.
After Schlabach departed, Cesar tossed three brilliant innings, punching out four Legends hitters and retiring the last seven he faced.Seelinger (S, 2) set down Lexington in the ninth and added a pair of strikeouts in his fourth appearance for the Power (13-10).
Trailing 2-0 in the third, Oneil Cruz laced a two-out, two-run single off Lexington starter Janser Lara (0-1) to tie the ballgame, bringing in Chris Sharpe and Calvin Mitchell on the play.
Mitchell was unable to extend his hitting streak to 14 games and on-base streak to 16 games on Saturday after going 0-for-4 with a run scored. His 13-game hitting streak that began on April 14 was the fourth-longest active streak in Minor League Baseball entering Saturday's action.
West Virginia added an insurance run in the top of the ninth off a Sharpe sacrifice fly to center that scored Kyle Watson.
The Power conclude their three-game road trip against the Lexington Legends at Whitaker Bank Ballpark on Sunday, with first pitch set for 2:05 p.m. LHP Domingo Robles (1-1, 3.98 ERA) will get the start for West Virginia, while Lexington sends righty Nolan Watson (1-1, 6.75 ERA) to the slab. Pregame coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at wvpower.com, via the TuneIn Radio App and the MiLB First Pitch App.
After Sunday's series finale in Kentucky and a day off on Monday, the Power return home for a seven-game stretch beginning May 1. The homestand includes a three-game set against the Augusta GreenJackets and a four-game series with the Hickory Crawdads. Those seven games are loaded with fun promotions at Appalachian Power Park, including Star Wars Night on Friday, May 4, Pirates and Princesses Night on Saturday, May 5, Harry Potter Day on Sunday, May 6, and so much more. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.