2005 A Scoreboard: West Virginia

[645]

Power come from behind to beat Suns

Hagerstown, MD (July 8, 2005) - The Hagerstown Suns held the West Virginia Power scoreless for six innings of Friday night's contest in Hagerstown, but the Power scored four runs down the stretch and went on to beat the Suns by the final score of 4-3.

Derran Watts drove in the first run of the game on a two out, RBI double in the bottom of the second inning to give the Suns an early 1-0 lead. The Suns took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ryan Coultas delivered an RBI single. In the top of the seventh inning, Nestor Corredor delivered a clutch two out, three run double to give the Power their first lead of the game. In the top of the eighth inning Grant Richardson hit a solo shot, his seventh homerun of the season to give the Power a 4-2 advantage. The Suns scored the final run in the bottom of the eighth inning on Ambiorix Concepcion's RBI single. Ben Stanczyk worked a perfect bottom half of the ninth inning to slam the door on the Suns.

Derek DeCarlo (4-3) earned the victory, Ben Stanczyk (4) earned the save and Matt Miramontes (3-2) obtained the loss. The Power are 6-9 in the second half after the victory and the Suns move to 4-11 with the loss.

The Power will continue the four game series with the Hagerstown Suns at Appalachian Power Park on Saturday night. The Power will throw right-handed pitcher Josh Wahpepah (4-3, 3.49) and the Suns will throw right-handed pitcher Jose Sanchez (10-3, 3.50). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

For more information contact the Power Front Offices at (304) 344-2287 or visit the Power website at www.wvpower.com. *

[645]

Suns Lose to Power, 4-3

Gaby Hernandez extended his shutout streak against the Power to 23.1 innings, Hagerstown outhit West Virginia 9-6 but it wasn't enough as the Suns lost to the Power 4-3 Friday night.

Any hopes of two consecutive no-hitters by Hernandez were erased by the second batter of the game, but the Suns' ace still kept the Power from scoring for 5 full innings.

The Suns offense provided their struggling bullpen the lead with RBI hits by Derran Watts and Grant Psomas, but the Suns yielded 4 runs in the 7th and 8th innings and never regained control.

After new pitcher Joe Serfass pitched a shutout inning, Matt Miramontes took the ball to begin the 7th frame. After four batters, he recorded one out while allowing a double and issuing a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch to load the bases.

Marcelo Perez tried to pitch Hagerstown out of the jam but catcher Nestor Corredor launched a 2-2 pitch to deep left field that squirted out of the glove of Corey Coles to score three runs and give West Virginia the lead.

Coles made a fantastic play to give himself a chance to make the catch and appeared to secure the potential third out until his body caromed off of the wall and the ball was jarred free.

The Suns loaded the bases in the 8th inning after scoring once to cut the lead to a single run, but Tony Piazza struck out to end the best chance Hagerstown had to get back in front.

The Suns depart for a 2-game series against West Virginia on Saturday morning and then travel to Lake County for two more games before taking a day off.

The first-half champs return to Muncipal Stadium Thursday, July 14 for a Thirsty Thursday presented by Twigg Cycles and Today's Hottest Country 104.7 FM against the Lake County Captains. Thursday is also Turn-Back-the-Clock night presented by Quality First Insurance. On that night, the Suns and their opponents will wear throwback uniforms representing the past 100 years of South Atlantic League baseball.

Stop by or call the Suns offices for tickets at 301-791-6266.

[645]

Suns spoil sendoff for Hernandez

Gabriel Hernandez left the Municipal Stadium field like he has so many times before.


The Hagerstown Suns workhorse right-hander was lifted from Friday's game after another strong performance in which he allowed one run or less, had the lead and ended with a no-decision.


And this time when Hernandez left, he just kept going.


Hernandez became another footnote in his final start for the Suns, as the bullpen coughed up a three-run double to Nester Corredor in the seventh inning to allow the West Virginia Power to gain a 4-3 victory. After the game, Hernandez and closer Carlos Muniz were promoted to St. Lucie in the Florida State League.


The sendoff was nothing out of the ordinary for Hernandez, who threw the second no-hitter in Suns history on June 19. It was the sixth time Hagerstown lost a game he had left while leading.


"A lot of times, it's not the culmination of innings that get you," Suns manager Gene Richards said. "One inning has been the big bugaboo. I hate to say it, but I guess that's low-A baseball."


Hernandez left with a 2-0 lead after pitching five innings in which he allowed just two first-inning singles and walked one while striking out four.


Newly acquired Joseph Serfass got the Suns through the sixth with relative ease before disaster hit again.


Matt Miramontes (3-2) was greeted by Ryan Braun's double to lead off the seventh before hitting Grant Richardson with a pitch. It was the 18th batter Miramontes has hit in his last 13 appearances.


After William Lewis' sacrifice bunt attempt was turned into a force play at third, Hassan Rasheed walked to load the bases and send Miramontes to the bench.


The Suns turned to Marcelo Perez, who struck out Josh Brady for the second out to put the Suns on the doorstep of an escape. But Corredor just missed a grand slam as his drive took left fielder Corey Coles off the fence for the bases-clearing double and a 3-2 lead.


"We just kill ourselves," Richards said. "We work hard and get them to the point where they don't execute on a play and then we turn around and execute for them. We gave them the three base runners and they got the one hit."


Richardson hit a home run to right off Perez in the eighth to give the Power a 4-2 lead.


The Suns had a chance to break back in the bottom of the inning as Ambiorix Concepcion ripped an RBI single to left off reliever Steve Hammond to score Carlos Gomez and cut the deficit to 4-3. Ben Stanczyk came on and shut down the Suns with the bases loaded, forcing Tony Piazza to fly out.


The loss was Hagerstown's eighth in the last 10 games as the Suns (46-39) fell to 4-11 and further into last place in the South Atlantic League's North Division second half.


Hagerstown posted Hernandez to a 1-0 lead in the second as Mike Carp led off with a double to center off Power starter Eric Thomas, who was making his first start. Concepcion sacrificed Carp to third before Derran Watts hit a 150-foot double down the right-field line to drive in the run.


The Suns upped the lead to 2-0 in the fourth when Grant Psomas and Carp greeted West Virginia reliever Derek DeCarlo with back-to-back singles. Ryan Coultas drove in the run with a one-out single.


But from there, it became a struggle for the Suns after Hernandez, the 19-year-old who was the third selection for the New York Mets in the 2004 amateur draft, left.


"We've been struggling with our pitching and a couple of other things," Richards said. "But the pitching ... they walked a couple of guys and they came in to score with the one hit. As the game went on, you could see something wasn't right. We were getting hits, but not doing anything with them. We have to find a way to pick up our game."

[645]

Hagerstown 6 West Virginia 0

[645]

Hagerstown Top 1st

Corey Coles doubles (14) on a ground ball to right fielder Adam Mannon.
Carlos Gomez grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Grant Richardson. Corey Coles to 3rd.
Grant Psomas hit by pitch.
Jesus Flores flies out to center fielder Freddy Parejo.
With Mike Carp batting, Grant Psomas steals (6) 2nd base.
Mike Carp walks.
Ambiorix Concepcion grounds into a force out, second baseman Will Lewis to shortstop Alcides Escobar. Mike Carp out at 2nd.

West Virginia Bottom 1st

Alcides Escobar triples (8) on a line drive to right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion.
Hasan Rasheed grounds out, shortstop Ryan Coultas to first baseman Mike Carp.
Ryan Braun strikes out swinging.
Grant Richardson flies out to left fielder James Burt.

Hagerstown Top 2nd

James Burt doubles (3) on a ground ball to right fielder Adam Mannon.
Ryan Coultas reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to third baseman Ryan Braun. James Burt out at 3rd.
With Matthew Fisher batting, Ryan Coultas caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Nestor Corredor to second baseman Will Lewis.
Matthew Fisher grounds out, third baseman Ryan Braun to first baseman Grant Richardson.

West Virginia Bottom 2nd

Will Lewis singles on a fly ball to left fielder James Burt.
With Joshua Brady batting, Will Lewis steals (7) 2nd base.
Joshua Brady grounds out, first baseman Mike Carp to pitcher Jose Sanchez. Will Lewis to 3rd.
Nestor Corredor called out on strikes.
Freddy Parejo pops out to shortstop Ryan Coultas.

Hagerstown Top 3rd

Corey Coles grounds out, third baseman Ryan Braun to first baseman Grant Richardson.
Carlos Gomez flies out to right fielder Adam Mannon.
Grant Psomas grounds out, third baseman Ryan Braun to first baseman Grant Richardson.

West Virginia Bottom 3rd

Adam Mannon grounds out, third baseman Grant Psomas to first baseman Mike Carp.
Alcides Escobar strikes out swinging.
Hasan Rasheed grounds out to first baseman Mike Carp.

Hagerstown Top 4th

Jesus Flores grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Grant Richardson.
Mike Carp hit by pitch.
Ambiorix Concepcion doubles (18) on a line drive to right fielder Adam Mannon. Mike Carp scores. Ambiorix Concepcion to 3rd on the throw.
James Burt singles on a line drive to left fielder Hasan Rasheed. Ambiorix Concepcion scores.
With Ryan Coultas batting, James Burt caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Nestor Corredor to second baseman Will Lewis.
Ryan Coultas doubles (18) on a line drive to left fielder Hasan Rasheed.
Matthew Fisher flies out to left fielder Hasan Rasheed.

West Virginia Bottom 4th

Ryan Braun flies out to left fielder James Burt.
Grant Richardson flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.
Will Lewis grounds out, second baseman Matthew Fisher to first baseman Mike Carp.

Hagerstown Top 5th

Corey Coles flies out to left fielder Hasan Rasheed.
Carlos Gomez singles on a line drive to right fielder Adam Mannon.
Grant Psomas grounds into a force out, third baseman Ryan Braun to second baseman Will Lewis. Carlos Gomez out at 2nd. Grant Psomas to 1st.
Jesus Flores walks. Grant Psomas to 2nd.
Mike Carp lines out to left fielder Hasan Rasheed.

West Virginia Bottom 5th

Joshua Brady flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.
Nestor Corredor strikes out swinging.
Freddy Parejo grounds out, third baseman Grant Psomas to first baseman Mike Carp.

Hagerstown Top 6th

Ambiorix Concepcion flies out to right fielder Adam Mannon in foul territory.
James Burt grounds out, third baseman Ryan Braun to first baseman Grant Richardson.
Ryan Coultas walks.
Matthew Fisher pops out to shortstop Alcides Escobar.

West Virginia Bottom 6th

Pitcher Change: Blake Eager replaces Jose Sanchez.
Adam Mannon strikes out swinging.
Alcides Escobar singles on a ground ball to third baseman Grant Psomas.
Hasan Rasheed singles on a ground ball to center fielder Carlos Gomez. Alcides Escobar to 2nd.
Ryan Braun flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.
Grant Richardson grounds into a force out, third baseman Grant Psomas to second baseman Matthew Fisher. Hasan Rasheed out at 2nd.

Hagerstown Top 7th

Pitcher Change: Brian Montalbo replaces Joshua Wahpepah.
Corey Coles walks.
With Carlos Gomez batting, wild pitch by Brian Montalbo, Corey Coles to 2nd.
With Carlos Gomez batting, wild pitch by Brian Montalbo, Corey Coles to 3rd.
Carlos Gomez walks.
With Grant Psomas batting, Carlos Gomez caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Nestor Corredor to shortstop Alcides Escobar.
Grant Psomas out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Adam Mannon. Corey Coles scores.
Jesus Flores called out on strikes.

West Virginia Bottom 7th

Will Lewis grounds out, shortstop Ryan Coultas to first baseman Mike Carp.
Joshua Brady singles on a line drive to center fielder Carlos Gomez.
Nestor Corredor singles on a ground ball to pitcher Blake Eager. Joshua Brady to 2nd.
Freddy Parejo reaches on fielding error by third baseman Grant Psomas. Joshua Brady to 3rd. Nestor Corredor to 2nd.
Adam Mannon strikes out swinging.
Alcides Escobar grounds into a force out, second baseman Matthew Fisher to shortstop Ryan Coultas. Freddy Parejo out at 2nd.

Hagerstown Top 8th

Mike Carp walks.
Ambiorix Concepcion pops out to shortstop Alcides Escobar.
James Burt lines into double play, third baseman Ryan Braun to first baseman Grant Richardson. Mike Carp doubled off 1st.

West Virginia Bottom 8th

Hasan Rasheed singles on a line drive to left fielder James Burt.
Ryan Braun strikes out swinging.
With Grant Richardson batting, Hasan Rasheed steals (9) 2nd base.
Grant Richardson flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.
Will Lewis flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.

Hagerstown Top 9th

Ryan Coultas singles on a line drive to left fielder Hasan Rasheed.
With Matthew Fisher batting, missed catch error by Grant Richardson on the pickoff attempt, Ryan Coultas to 2nd.
Matthew Fisher out on a sacrifice bunt, catcher Nestor Corredor to second baseman Will Lewis. Ryan Coultas to 3rd.
Corey Coles singles on a ground ball to right fielder Adam Mannon. Ryan Coultas scores.
With Carlos Gomez batting, passed ball by Nestor Corredor, Corey Coles to 2nd.
Carlos Gomez singles on a ground ball to third baseman Ryan Braun. Corey Coles to 3rd.
With Grant Psomas batting, Carlos Gomez steals (44) 2nd base, Corey Coles scores. Carlos Gomez to 3rd. Throwing error by shortstop Alcides Escobar.
Grant Psomas grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Grant Richardson. Carlos Gomez scores.
Jesus Flores strikes out swinging.

West Virginia Bottom 9th

Pitcher Change: Jose Gomez replaces Blake Eager.
Joshua Brady flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.
Nestor Corredor flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.
Freddy Parejo grounds out, third baseman Grant Psomas to first baseman Mike Carp.

[645]

Wahpepah throws six strong innings in Power loss

Charleston, WV (July 9, 2005) - Josh Wahpepah allowed only two runs on six hits in six innings of work on Saturday night against the Hagerstown Suns, but it was not enough as the Suns shutout the Power 6-0 at Appalachian Power Park.

Ambiorix Concepcion smacked an RBI triple and Jim Burt ripped an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning to give the Suns a 2-0 lead. Grant Psomas added a Sac Fly RBI in the top of the seventh inning to put the Suns up 3-0. In the top of the ninth inning, the Suns scored the final three runs of the game. Corey Coles knocked in the first run of the inning on an RBI single. Coles scored later in the inning on an errant throw from Alcides Escobar. Grant Psomas drove in the final run of the inning on an RBI groundout.

Jose Sanchez (11-3) earned the victory, and Josh Wahpepah (4-4) obtained the loss. The Power are 6-10 in the second half after the loss and the Suns move to 5-11 with the win.

The Power will conclude the four game series with the Hagerstown Suns at Appalachian Power Park on Sunday afternoon. The Power will throw right-handed pitcher Yovani Gallardo (2-3, 3.61) and the Suns will throw right-handed pitcher Tim Worthington (2-1, 1.48). The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM.

For more information contact the Power Front Offices at (304) 344-2287 or visit the Power website at www.wvpower.com. *

[645]

PITCHING RETURNS FOR SUNS IN 6-0 WIN

Charleston, WV:The Suns starters have yielded just one run in the last three games in 17 innings, and it was Jose Sanchez taking his turn on Saturday night. Sanchez threw five shutout innings, earning his league leading 11th win in the Suns 6-0 shutout victory againgt West Virginia.

The Suns have yielded just five runs on 15 hits to the West Virginia Power (6-10, 31-55) over three games, and have won two of them. Hagerstown (5-11, 47-39) earned their sixth shutout win of the year, and was their third shutout of West Virginia. The Suns are 11-4 in the season series versus the Power.

Blake Eager threw three scorless innings in his first action for Hagerstown since going on the disabled list on June 6th. Jose Gomez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to end it.

Corey Coles, Carlos Gomez, Jim Burt, and Ryan Coultas all had two hits apiece, and Grant Psomas had two RBI's for the Suns who have 106 hits and 54 runs in their last nine games. They are 2-7 over that stretch.

Tim Worthington (2-1) goes for the Suns against Yovani Gallardo (2-3) at 2:05pm on Sunday in the finale. The Suns travel to Lake County to face the Captains for two games afterwards.

[645]

Hagerstown turns off the Power

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Hagerstown starter Jose Sanchez held West Virginia to two hits and no runs in five innings and Ambiorix Concepcion broke a scoreless tie with an RBI double in the fourth inning as the Suns blanked the Power 6-0 Saturday night.


Sanchez improved to 11-3 while the Suns got a much-needed victory. The South Atlantic League North Division first-half champs improved to 5-11 in the second half.


Concepcion scored on a double by James Burt to make it 2-0 in the fourth.


Hagerstown took a 3-0 lead in the seventh as Corey Coles walked, advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches by Power reliever Brian Montalbo and scored on Grant Psomas' sacrifice fly to right.


The Suns added three runs in the ninth, getting an RBI single by Coles, who later scored on an error, and an RBI groundout from Psomas.


Carlos Gomez, Ryan Coultas, Coles and Burt each had two of Hagerstown's nine hits.


Blake Eager took over for Sanchez in the sixth and allowed no runs and five hits in three innings. Jose Gomez pitched a perfect ninth for the Suns.

[645]

West Virginia 2 Hagerstown 1

[645]

Hagerstown Top 1st

Corey Coles lines out to center fielder Hasan Rasheed.
Carlos Gomez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Joshua Brady.
With Grant Psomas batting, Carlos Gomez caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Clay Blevins to shortstop Alcides Escobar.
Grant Psomas strikes out swinging.

West Virginia Bottom 1st

Alcides Escobar singles on a line drive to left fielder James Burt.
With Hasan Rasheed batting, Alcides Escobar steals (22) 2nd base.
Hasan Rasheed grounds out, shortstop Yury Santana to first baseman Mike Carp.
Ryan Braun flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.
Grant Richardson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion. Alcides Escobar scores.
Will Lewis walks. Grant Richardson to 2nd.
Carlos Corporan strikes out swinging.

Hagerstown Top 2nd

Jesus Flores called out on strikes.
Mike Carp hit by pitch.
Ambiorix Concepcion grounds into double play, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Grant Richardson. Mike Carp out at 2nd.

West Virginia Bottom 2nd

Joshua Brady flies out to right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion.
Clay Blevins lines out to right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion.
Freddy Parejo walks.
With Alcides Escobar batting, Freddy Parejo steals (15) 2nd base.
Alcides Escobar grounds out, second baseman Ryan Coultas to first baseman Mike Carp.

Hagerstown Top 3rd

James Burt pops out to catcher Clay Blevins in foul territory.
Ryan Coultas flies out to right fielder Freddy Parejo.
Yury Santana grounds out, third baseman Ryan Braun to first baseman Grant Richardson.

West Virginia Bottom 3rd

Defensive switch from 3rd to 1st for Grant Psomas.
Defensive Substitution: Russ Triplett replaces third baseman Grant Psomas, batting 5th.
Hasan Rasheed grounds out, second baseman Ryan Coultas to first baseman Grant Psomas.
Ryan Braun grounds out to first baseman Grant Psomas.
Grant Richardson strikes out swinging.

Hagerstown Top 4th

Corey Coles grounds out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to first baseman Grant Richardson.
Carlos Gomez flies out to left fielder Joshua Brady.
Grant Psomas flies out to center fielder Hasan Rasheed.

West Virginia Bottom 4th

Will Lewis grounds out, second baseman Ryan Coultas to first baseman Grant Psomas.
Carlos Corporan strikes out swinging.
Joshua Brady flies out to right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion.

Hagerstown Top 5th

Jesus Flores called out on strikes.
Russ Triplett walks.
Ambiorix Concepcion flies out to left fielder Joshua Brady.
James Burt strikes out swinging.

West Virginia Bottom 5th

Clay Blevins flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.
Freddy Parejo called out on strikes.
Alcides Escobar singles on a line drive to right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion.
With Hasan Rasheed batting, Alcides Escobar steals (23) 2nd base.
Hasan Rasheed singles on a line drive to right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion. Alcides Escobar out at home on the throw, right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion to catcher Jesus Flores.

Hagerstown Top 6th

Ryan Coultas flies out to left fielder Joshua Brady.
Yury Santana pops out to shortstop Alcides Escobar.
Corey Coles pops out to shortstop Alcides Escobar.

West Virginia Bottom 6th

Pitcher Change: Charles Bowman replaces Tim Worthington.
Ryan Braun flies out to right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion.
Grant Richardson grounds out, shortstop Yury Santana to first baseman Grant Psomas.
Will Lewis singles on a line drive to left fielder James Burt.
Carlos Corporan flies out to center fielder Carlos Gomez.

Hagerstown Top 7th

Carlos Gomez grounds out, third baseman Ryan Braun to first baseman Grant Richardson.
Grant Psomas strikes out swinging.
Jesus Flores flies out to center fielder Hasan Rasheed.

West Virginia Bottom 7th

Joshua Brady walks.
Clay Blevins pops out to second baseman Ryan Coultas.
Freddy Parejo strikes out swinging.
With Alcides Escobar batting, Joshua Brady steals (7) 2nd base.
Alcides Escobar grounds out, shortstop Yury Santana to first baseman Grant Psomas.

Hagerstown Top 8th

Russ Triplett walks.
Ambiorix Concepcion flies out to right fielder Freddy Parejo.
With James Burt batting, wild pitch by Yovani Gallardo, Russ Triplett to 2nd.
James Burt flies out to center fielder Hasan Rasheed.
Ryan Coultas doubles (19) on a line drive to left fielder Joshua Brady. Russ Triplett scores.
Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Derran Watts replaces Yury Santana.
Derran Watts grounds out, second baseman Will Lewis to first baseman Grant Richardson.

West Virginia Bottom 8th

Defensive switch from 1st to 3rd for Grant Psomas.
Defensive switch from 3rd to 2nd for Russ Triplett.
Defensive switch from left field to 1st for James Burt.
Defensive switch from 2nd to shortstop for Ryan Coultas.
Defensive Substitution: Derran Watts remains in the game as the left fielder.
Hasan Rasheed singles on a line drive to right fielder Ambiorix Concepcion.
Ryan Braun out on a sacrifice bunt, catcher Jesus Flores to first baseman James Burt. Hasan Rasheed to 2nd.
Grant Richardson doubles (19) on a ground ball to left fielder Derran Watts. Hasan Rasheed scores.
Will Lewis grounds out, second baseman Russ Triplett to first baseman James Burt. Grant Richardson to 3rd.
Carlos Corporan strikes out swinging.

Hagerstown Top 9th

Pitcher Change: Robert Hinton replaces Yovani Gallardo.
Corey Coles grounds out, second baseman Will Lewis to first baseman Grant Richardson.
Carlos Gomez walks.
Grant Psomas flies out to right fielder Freddy Parejo in foul territory.
Jesus Flores flies out to center fielder Hasan Rasheed.

[645]

Gallardo tosses eight innings in Power victory

Charleston, WV (July 10, 2005) - Yovani Gallardo threw 8 innings in Sunday afternoon's game against the Hagerstown Suns at Appalachian Power Park, marking the longest outing for a Power pitcher this season. The Power received two big hits from Grant Richardson and beat the Suns 2-1.

Grant Richardson's first big hit was a two out, RBI single in the bottom of the first inning, driving in Alcides Escobar to give the Power a 1-0 lead. The Suns trailed 1-0 until Ryan Coultas tied the game in the top of the eighth inning on an RBI double. Grant Richardson struck again in the bottom of the eighth inning. With Hasan Rasheed on second base and one out, Richardson hit a double down the left field line to score Rasheed and give the Power their second lead of the game. The Power took the 2-1 lead into the top of the ninth inning where Robert Hinton allowed a one out walk to Carlos Gomez but nothing more, and earned the save.

Yovani Gallardo (3-3) earned the victory, Robert Hinton (6) earned the save and Bo Bowman (1-2) obtained the loss. The Power are 7-10 in the second half after the win and the Suns move to 5-12 with the loss.

The Power will begin a four game series with the Lakewood BlueClaws at First Energy Park in Lakewood, New Jersey on Tuesday night. The Power will throw right-handed pitcher Mark Rogers (0-6, 4.73) and the BlueClaws have not announced their starter yet. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

For more information contact the Power Front Offices at (304) 344-2287 or visit the Power website at www.wvpower.com. *

[645]

SUNS LOSE PITCHERS DUEL, 2-1

Charleston, WV:After smashing 106 hits in their last nine games, the Suns were held to just two hits in a 2-1 loss at the West Virginia Power on Sunday afternoon.

The Suns (5-12, 47-40) have lost 8 of 11, are mirred in last place in the second half after winning the first half in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division. West Virginia (7-10, 33-55) won for just the fifth time in 16 games versus the Suns this year.

Tim Worthingon did not get the decision in his third straight start. He went five innings and yielded only one run on four hits. Bo Bowman (1-2) was the hard luck loser after giving up his only run of his three relief innings in the eighth, after the Suns had just tied it 1-1.

Russ Triplett scored the only run on a double by Ryan Coultas, who is hitting over .400 in his last 25 games. Coultas has reached base safely in 12 straight games.

Monday at 7:05pm the Suns will play the Lake County Captains in the first of two. Lake County is 6-2 versus Hagerstown this year.

The Suns have an off day Wednesday, then start a four game homestand against Lake County on Thursday at 7:05pm on Twigg Cycles and WAYZ Thirsty Thursday/Ladies Night. It is also Quality First Insurance Turn-Back-The-Clock Night. For tickets call the Suns office at 301-791-6266 or order them online at www.hagerstownsuns.com.

[645]

Suns without power

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Hagerstown Suns were silenced by West Virginia pitcher Yovani Gallardo on Sunday in a 2-1 loss to the Power.

The Suns, 5-12 in the South Atlantic League's second half, were able to reach Gallardo for only two hits through eight innings.

Hagerstown, down 1-0 through seven innings, tied the game 1-1 in the eighth inning when Mike Carp was hit by a pitch and Russ Triplett, running for Carp, scored on a double by Ryan Coultas.

Otherwise, Gallardo yielded only a single by Carlos Gomez while striking out five and walking only two.

The Suns wasted a five-inning effort by Tim Worthington, who allowed only one run and four hits. The loss went to Bo Bowman, who gave up a run-scoring double by Grant Richardson in the bottom of the eighth inning.

[645]

Power's Gallardo shuts down Hagerstown bats

West Virginia Power starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo doesn't mind sharing.

However, at times, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Texas native also can be down-right stingy.

On Sunday at Appalachian Power Park, the Hagerstown Suns got a good look at the latter, as Gallardo gobbled up both innings and Suns hitters during a 2-1 Power win.

West Virginia improved to 7-10, while a crowd of 2,629 watched on a near perfect day for baseball.

But Gallardo's performance was even more impressive than the weather, as the right-hander tossed eight innings of two-hit, one-run baseball while improving his record to 3-3.

Gallardo, who won his last start against Lexington by allowing just two runs and six hits in six innings, lowered his earned run average to 3.42. He also became the first Power starting pitcher to throw eight innings during an outing this season.

Gallardo's best performance of the year came in his fourth start without the handicaps of innings restrictions or being in tandem with another starting pitcher.

"The last four times out, he's not been in tandem with anybody," said Power pitcher coach John Curtis. "Since he's gone out on his own, he's struggled a little bit.

"The first two times out, he didn't make it through the fifth and there was some concern as to whether we'd done it too soon. But today he demonstrated what he's capable of doing."

For Gallardo, there was no worry about a premature departure from tandem pitching.

Instead, his worry and work went toward a delivery flaw.

"In the first couple of starts, I was having a little bit of trouble with my delivery," said Gallardo, a second-round pick in the 2004 draft. "I think that was the problem. I just worked on it in the pen and today it worked out great.

"It's one of those things where fixing the little problem in my delivery helped out a lot. The last couple of starts, I felt there was just something missing. I just worked to get it back.

"I'd say this was my best outing."

Curtis agreed that Sunday's performance was Gallardo's finest outing to date.

"He's been in a little funk as of late, pitching behind all the time," said Curtis. "Today he was out in front and had probably the best curveball he's had in his last four or five starts."
Gallardo allowed only a one-out single in the first and a two-out, RBI double in the eighth, while striking out five and walking two on 88 pitches.

"I just tried to keep the ball down and let them put it in play," said Gallardo. "I wanted to throw as few pitches as possible, that was my plan."

At the plate for the Power, Alcides Escobar and Hasan Rasheed each had two hits, but the hero was first baseman Grant Richardson.

Richardson had two hits and two RBI, including a game-winning, two-out, two-strike double in the eighth inning.

"I'd hit off the guy (Bo Bowman) once before and I knew he had a pretty good sinker," said Richardson of his game winner. "I was expecting that and just trying to work up the middle with it and I got lucky enough to hit one right down the line."

After an off-day today, the Power will begin a four-game series against the Lakewood BlueClaws at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday in Lakewood, N.J. The Power returns home on July 18.

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July 11 is a scheduled Off Day