Bullpen propels Power to series finale win in extras

ROME, Ga. (July 29, 2019) - Austin Shenton's RBI single in the tenth and the West Virginia bullpen lifted the Power to a 4-3 win over the Rome Braves Monday afternoon at State Mutual Stadium.
West Virginia (18-20, 55-53) had an opportunity to get on the board first with the bases loaded in the opening frame, but two strikeouts and a Nick Rodriguez pop out ended the rally before a run could score. Rome (19-19, 49-58) converted in their half of the first on a Shea Langeliers single that plated a run and gave the Braves a 1-0 lead.

It took until the third inning for the Power to answer, when Julio Rodriguez blasted a 433-foot homer, his second in as many days, over the scoreboard in left-center field to tie the game at one. After a scoreless fourth inning, West Virginia extended its lead in the fifth on a Matt Sanders RBI single and a Julio sacrifice fly that gave the Power a 3-1 lead.
Rome responded in the bottom of the inning with two RBI singles, one from Drew Campbell and the other from Greg Cullen that loaded the bases and knotted the game at three. With the bases juiced, Reid Morgan entered out of the bullpen to relieve Evan Johnson and worked out of the jam by inducing a double play on his second pitch to keep the game squared up. 
Bryan Pall made an emphatic return from the injured list, as he hurled a scoreless seventh inning with a strikeout before Reeves Martin (1-0) entered in the eighth and delivered a perfect frame. The Power lineup was stifled in the top of the ninth, and Martin continued on the bump in the home half of the stanza. He surrendered two hits, but evaded the threat by forcing a groundout that sent the game to extras. 
Shenton singled to left off Tanner Lawson (3-5) to lead off the tenth inning, plating Julio from second base on the play and vaulting West Virginia to a 4-3 lead. However, the Power could not add to their lead later in the frame, as N-Rod grounded into a double play to end the rally. Dayeison Arias (S,10) was called upon to slam the door in the bottom of the tenth. Arias retired the first two batters he faced without letting the placed-on runner advance, but walked Griffin Benson with two outs. Jeremy Fernandez then battled with Arias and fouled off six straight pitches, but he grounded out to second to finish off the 4-3 West Virginia win in extras.
The Power returns to Appalachian Power Park Wednesday evening to take on the Greensboro Grasshoppers, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. RHP Josias De Los Santos (2-6, 5.22 ERA) gets the ball for West Virginia, while Greensboro sends RHP Steven Jennings (5-9, 5.02 ERA) to the bump. Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at wvpower.com and via the TuneIn Radio App and MiLB First Pitch App.
West Virginia returns to the friendly confines for another seven-game homestand that welcomes the Greensboro Grasshoppers and Rome Braves to town. Some highlights of the homestand include Purple Power Night on Wednesday, July 31, CAMC Night on Friday, August 2, and Back to School Night on Saturday, August 3. The Power will sport special 'Hot Shot' jerseys on Friday that will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the CAMC Foundation and benefiting local causes in the Kanawha Valley. Saturday, the first 1,000 fans can receive a limited edition backpack as a part of Back to School Night, presented by Todd Judy Ford. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.