West Virginia beats Legends despite Pellegrini's big night

(APPLEBEE'S PARK, Lexington, Ky.) The West Virginia Power broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the ninth inning and defeated the Lexington Legends 5-4 at Applebee's Park Saturday night. The Power had to overcome a big night by Lexington's Brian Pellegrini, who went four-for-four in the game, including two home runs.

West Virginia took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a double by Starling Marte and a single by Bobby Spain. Pellegrini tied it with a solo home run in the bottom of the second, his 22nd of the year.

West Virginia regained the lead in the top of the third. Greg Picart doubled, went to third on an infield out and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tony Sanchez. Pellegrini evened the score at 2-2 in the fourth with his second home run.

Both teams scored in the seventh inning. With one out, Danny Bomback doubled. Josue Peley was hit by a pitch, and Greg Picart walked to load the bases. Austin McClune hit a sacrifice fly to score Bomback, giving West Virginia a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, left fielder Quincy Latimore lost sight of Pellegrini's high fly ball, which fell for a double. Marques Williams sacrificed Pellegrini to third, and he scored from there on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3.

Spain led off the top of the ninth with a single, and was replaced by pinch runner Brett Willemburg. Willemburg advanced to second on an infield out, and came around to score when reliever Brian Wabick threw past first trying to get Peley, who had bunted to the third base side of the mound. Picart followed with a single, sending Peley to second. McClune struck out, and Sanchez, who was seven for 12 in the series, was intentionally walked to load the bases. Picart then scored on a wild pitch by Patrick Urckfitz, who had relieved Wabick.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Steve Brown walked and Pellegrini followed with a infield single. After Marques Williams popped out, the game appeared over when Russ Dixon hit an infield popup. But Willemburg, playing third base, dropped the ball, allowing Brown to score and leaving runners at first and second. They moved to second and third on a passed ball, but Gabriel Alvarado struck out Chris Jackson to end the game.

Alvarado, who pitched the last four innings, (6-9) got the win. Wabick (6-2) was the losing pitcher.

Pellegrini is now two short of the single season Legends record held jointly by Hunter Pence (2005) and Beau Hearod (2004). Pence and Ben Zobrist were inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame before the game.

After a day off the Legends go on the road to open a series in Kannapolis Monday night.