POWER WIN SLUGFEST AGAINST ROME

Charleston, WV (July 23, 2008) – The West Virginia Power and Rome Braves combined to score 22 runs on 28 hits on Wednesday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park. The Power erased an early 5-0 deficit and came back to win their third game in a row with a 12-10 victory to close out their eight game home stand.

The Braves plated five runs in the top of the first to take the early lead. Carlos Lee scored on Eric Fryer’s fielding error at first base before Adam Coe doubled in Jason Heyward. Michael Fisher singled in the next two runs and Samuel Sime scored on Matt Cline’s throwing error. Caleb Gindl singled in West Virginia’s first run in the bottom of the first.

The Power scored five in the second to take the lead and never looked back. Anderson De La Rosa hit a three run homer, his third of the season before Matt Cline doubled in Uly Snijders to tie the game and Eric Farris singled in Cline to give the Power the lead. They plated two more runs in the third. De La Rosa doubled in the first run and Cline reached on a fielder’s choice to plate the next run. David Berres made it a one run game in the fourth inning with a two-run double.

West Virginia plated their final four runs with two outs. Logan Schafer doubled in a pair of runs in the sixth inning and two innings later, he and Fryer ripped back-to-back two out RBI singles. The Braves got two more in the seventh on Cody Johnson’s RBI double and Fisher’s RBI groundout. Jason Heyward scored their final run on a wild pitch in the ninth.

Michael Bowman (1-0) tossed two scoreless innings of relief and fanned three batters to get the victory. Corey Frerichs (8) came in with one out in the ninth inning and recorded the final two outs in the ninth to get the save. Jeff Locke (4-10) allowed eight runs on ten hits over four innings and was tagged with the loss.

The Power improved to 56-46 on the year and 24-9 in the second half with the win. The Braves fell to 37-65 on the year and 15-18 in the second half with the loss. Eight Power players hit safely, and five turned in multi-hit games. De La Rosa and Farris paced the Power with three hits a piece. Cline reached three times and extended his on base streak to 14 games. Farris went 3-for-5 and has hit safely in nine straight games since his 15 game hitting streak was snapped.

The Power are off on Thursday but will begin a four game series against the Lake County Captains at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio on Friday night. The Power will start left hander Dan Merklinger (3-7, 6.40). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.