That's Legendary: Power slam Legends

(Lexington, KY- August 16, 2014)- The West Virginia Power knocked off the Lexington Legends 13-3 on Saturday evening at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. The Power scored 12 unanswered runs on a season-high 18 hits and moved back to .500 in the second half with the win.

Michael Fransoso lead off the game with a triple and gave West Virginia an early lead when he scored on a JaCoby Jones sacrifice fly. Power starter Luis Heredia allowed base hits in each of the first three innings and Lexington evened the score on a run-scoring single by Dominique Taylor in the bottom of the third. The Legends added runs in the fourth and fifth innings, keyed by one Power error in each inning.

After Lexington starter Pedro Fernandez allowed just one run on four hits over four innings, the Power offense got on track against the bullpen. In the top of the sixth, West Virginia evened the score with a two runs off reliever Matt Tentuta. Wyatt Mathisen doubled in Erich Weiss to cut the deficit in half before scoring on a game-tying single by Adam Landecker. Edwin Espinal singled home Fransoso in the seventh with two outs for a 4-3 lead.

The Power sent nine to the plate in the eighth with each of the first five batters reaching on base hits, including a two-run double by Landecker and Fransoso's second triple of the game. West Virginia's utility man became the first Power player to hit two triples in one game since Chris Lashmet on May 30, 2012. A five-run frame extended the lead to 9-3. 

JaCoby Jones added his third grand slam of the season in the ninth to close the scoring at 13-3. Jones became the first player this season to drive in five runs.

Heredia did not factor in the decision, allowing three runs, one earned, over five innings. Henry Hirsch (4-6) earned the win with three scoreless relief innings of work while striking out six. Tenuta (5-10) took the loss after surrendering eight runs on 11 hits over three innings. All nine Power batters had at least one hit, paced by four hits from Mathisen and three from Fransoso and Jones.

West Virginia and Lexington conclude this series on Sunday afternoon. Felipe Gonzalez will start for the Power against the Legends Alec Mills.