Double-digit offense backs stellar Cubilete in win

ROME, GA (August 12, 2018) - West Virginia's offense scored 10 runs in a game for the first time since June 30, helping the Power cruise by the Rome Braves in a 10-4 victory Sunday afternoon at State Mutual Stadium.
West Virginia (23-25, 60-54) opened up the scoring in the second inning. Deon Stafford drew a walk to lead off the inning. Rodolfo Castro then laced a double down the left-field line to move Stafford to third before Robbie Glendinning grounded out to score Stafford. The next batter, Rafelin Lorenzo, lofted a sacrifice fly to right field that plated Castro and gave the Power a 2-0 lead.

Castro finished the afternoon 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while lashing two two-baggers in the win.
Rome (22-26, 62-55) answered in the bottom of the third. Ramos tallied the Braves' first run with an RBI ground out, cutting West Virginia's lead to 2-1.
The Power added another pair of runs in the fourth. Stafford tripled and scored on a wild pitch from Freddy Tarnok (4-4). After a Glendinning walk, Lorenzo smashed a double to left to score the second baseman and increase the club's lead to 4-1.
West Virginia doubled its score in the fifth. Jesse Medrano led off the frame with a double before Lolo Sanchez reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Fabricio Macias then drove a double to right to send in Medrano. With one out, the next batter, Stafford, popped a fly ball to left that Jefrey Ramos could not field cleanly, letting two runs score as the ball glanced off his glove and fell to the turf. Finally, Castro stroked his second double to bring Stafford home and push the Power's lead to 8-1.
The Braves offered a second flurry of offense in the sixth. Brendan Venter homered with Trey Harris and Marcus Almonte aboard to slice West Virginia's edge to 8-4.
The Power tacked on two insurance runs late as Castro recorded an RBI single in the seventh against MLB rehabber Sam Freeman before Ben Bengtson bounced a single over A.J. Graffanino's head in the eighth and later scored on a Macias sacrifice fly to put West Virginia up 10-4.
Sergio Cubilete (4-5) tossed five innings of one-run baseball, allowing just four hits and fanning five batters to earn his fourth win of the season.
Joel Cesar offered two innings of relief, working the sixth and seventh frames while allowing three runs on four hits. After that, Elvis Escobar spun the final two frames to shut the Braves down. The lefty struck out four batters in the win and ceded just two baserunners on a pair of walks.
West Virginia concludes its four-game series against the Rome Braves Monday night, with first pitch from State Mutual Stadium set for 7 p.m. The Power has yet to announce their starter, while the Braves send RHP Alan Rangel (4-6, 4.44 ERA) to the hill. Pregame coverage begins at 6:40 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.
The Power returns home Wednesday, August 15, for the start of a seven-game homestand against the Columbia Fireflies and Charleston River Dogs. The homestand begins with Pets in the Park Night August 15 and ends with a Rock 105 Two for Tuesday August 21. The home stretch is highlighted with a Trevor Hoffman figurine giveaway as a part of the Power's Wheelers Weekend celebration August 18. The first 1,000 fans will receive the figurine, courtesy of Charleston Building and Construction Trades Council. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit wvpower.com.