Martin tosses six scoreless in debut despite loss

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (August 17, 2019) - Matt Martin twirled six scoreless innings in his West Virginia debut, but a late rally dropped the Power in a 4-1 loss to the Hagerstown Suns Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park.
Martin started his Low-A debut in emphatic fashion with a three-up, three-down frame in the first and surrendered just one base hit through the first four innings. However, Tomas Alastre was just as effective through the first three frames, as he kept the West Virginia (25-30, 62-63) lineup scoreless with just three hits.

The Power finally broke open the scoring in the fourth, as Austin Shenton clanked a ball off the top of the wall in right-center field that bounded away from the Suns (27-28, 57-68) and resulted in an inside-the-park homer and a 1-0 West Virginia lead. It was the first inside-the-parker since Lolo Sanchez accomplished the feat against the Lakewood BlueClaws on April 10, 2018. 
Following the homer, the Power could not muster another hit against Alastre, who worked into the sixth inning before he was replaced by Alex Troop (1-1), who closed out the frame. Martin's day came to a close after six scoreless innings with just two hits allowed and four strikeouts in his debut with West Virginia.
Hagerstown tied the ballgame in the top of the seventh after Israel Pineda reached on an error by Bobby Honeyman and advanced to second on a groundout from Cole Daily. Phil Caufield then singled off Brendan McGuigan (0-1) and plated Pineda before he was thrown out at second to end the frame.
After a scoreless eighth for both sides, Hagerstown broke open the ballgame in the ninth after an error from Shenton extended the inning. An RBI single from Daily scored Justin Connell from second to take a 2-1 lead before Caulfield drove in a pair on a single of his own to make it 4-1. West Virginia was silenced in the bottom half of the inning despite a leadoff double from Charlie McConnell, as Troop closed out a 4-1 Suns win.
The Power concludes their four-game homestand with the Hagerstown Suns Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park, with first pitch set for 2:05 p.m. RHP Ryne Inman (8-7, 4.59 ERA) gets the ball for West Virginia, while Hagerstown sends righty Jake Irvin (6-7, 4.04 ERA) to the bump. Pregame coverage begins at 1:45 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.
The series with the Suns concludes with another Kidz Sunday Funday! During all Sunday home games in 2019, kids 12 and younger can run the bases after the final out, courtesy of the SMART529 College Savings Program, as well as play catch in the outfield before the game. Select Power players will also be available for postgame autographs. Also, members of the Sheetz Power Kidz Club can get free tickets courtesy of Sheetz. All Kidz Sunday Fundays are presented by Shawnee Park Foundation. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.