Six-run fourth dooms Power in 9-0 shutout loss

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 29, 2019) - Josias De Los Santos was tabbed for eight earned runs as West Virginia is blanked by Lexington in road finale, 9-0, Thursday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
De Los Santos (4-8) began the outing with a scoreless first inning as Nick Rodriguez gunned down a run at the plate from second base to keep the Legends (29-36, 66-68) off the board. However, Lexington started the scoring in the following frame as Nick Hutchins crushed a 431-foot blast over the left field wall and gave the Legends a 1-0.

The Legends then tacked on another run in the third with two outs as Chris Hudgins singled in Jeison Guzman and doubled the lead for Lexington. Things got out of control in the fourth as De Los Santos loaded the bases with two outs with a walk to Guzman and Eric Cole unloaded them with a grand slam down the line in right to make it 6-0. West Virginia (30-35, 67-68) conceded two more runs in the frame as Eric Cole cracked a two run homer to left and made it 8-0 Lexington. 
Brendan McGuigan entered in the fourth and closed out the frame with a strikeout of Reid Rohlman to stop the rally. McGuigan then tossed two more innings and did not allow a hit as he struck out a career high five hitters. On the other side, Zach Haake (4-6) twirled five scoreless frames and struck out eight batters before he was relieved by Kyle Hinton in sixth.
Robert Winslow was called upon in the seventh inning and retired the first two hitters of the frame before a John Rave double and Brhet Bewley RBI single made it 9-0 Lexington. Winslow closed out the game for West Virginia without surrendering another run, as Brandon Marklund closed out the final two frames for the Legends and solidified a 9-0 Lexington win.
The loss marks the first time that West Virginia has been swept on the road since May 14-16 against the Charleston RiverDogs, and closes the 2019 road record at a 31-38 mark.
The Power returns for their final series of 2019 against the Greensboro Grasshoppers Friday evening at Appalachian Power Park, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. RHP Matt Martin (1-0, 0.00 ERA) heads to the hill for West Virginia, while Greensboro counters with RHP Noe Toribio (2-2, 4.35 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, online at www.wvpower.com and via the TuneIn Radio App and MiLB First Pitch App. 
The Power returns to Appalachian Power Park for their final homestand of 2019 August 30, as they welcome in the Greensboro Grasshoppers for a four-game set that runs through September 2. The highlight of the homestand comes Friday with Deaf Awareness Night, presented by the West Virginia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, where the Power will sport special ASL-themed jerseys. These jerseys will be auctioned off on the LiveSource app during the game, and there will be interpreters throughout the ballpark! The Power will also host their final postgame fireworks show of the season, presented by Encova Insurance. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit www.wvpower.com.