The West Virginia Power had been dominated in the first two games of their three-game series with the Charleston RiverDogs. They had scored just two-runs while allowing 16, so they needed to get a strong pitching performance from starter Dario Agrazal to be able to grab the final contest of this series. He came through.

The West Virginia right-hander allowed just one-run in six innings of work to even his record at 3-3. He showed incredible command of the strike zone all game long, throwing 56 of his 81 pitches for strikes. It was a command performance.

Agrazal was opposed by the RiverDogs Cody Carroll. Both pitchers kept the game scoreless in the first, but both would allow runs in the second. Carroll had retired the first five hitters of the game, but a two-out single in the second kept the inning alive. Mitchell Tolman followed the single with his second homerun of the season and the Power surged to the early 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second Connor Spencer cut the deficit in half when he started the frame with his fifth home run of the year. The towering shot over the right field wall made it 2-1.

That is how it would remain until the top of the eighth when West Virginia would plate three to extend the lead to 5-1. With Simon De la Rosa on the hill for Charleston, Cole Tucker began the inning with his second triple of the season. A base hit by Tito Polo scored Tucker to make it 3-1. Next up was Daniel Arribas who was hit by a pitch, and Carlos Munoz laid down a perfect bunt that moved both runners into scoring position. Logan Hill’s first double of the season brought in both runners to make it 5-1.

This game looked like it was over, but these are the never say die Charleston RiverDogs. In the bottom of the eighth they plated two to pull within two-runs. Hoy Jun Park started the inning by drawing a walk, but he was thrown out trying to steal. Two batters later Spencer walked and Jhalan Jackson followed with a single to put two on with two outs. Angel Anguilar then drilled a ball to the wall in left field for a triple. Both runners scored and it was 5-3.

In the ninth, the West Virginia Power sent Julio Eusebio to close it out. Kendall Coleman greeted the new reliever with a single, but he would be thrown out trying to steal as Leonardo Molina struck out. Gosuke Katoh grounded out to the end the game and give West Virginia the 5-3 victory.

Agrazal (3-3) earned the victory. He allowed 6-hits, 2-walks, and a run in 6-innings. The right-hander struck out 5. Eusebio earned his fourth save.

Cole Tucker was 2-4 with a run scored and a triple for West Virginia. Hill and Tolman both drove in two-runs. Jhalan Jackson had a huge day at the plate for the Charleston RiverDogs, going 3-3 with a run and a walk. Spencer scored two runs and Austin Afenir had two hits.

The West Virginia Power (23-22) head home to take on the Columbia Fireflies (24-22). The Charleston RiverDogs (29-16) move onto Augusta to take on the GreenJackets (21-25) looking for their 30th win of the season. Yefrey Ramirez (1-1, 3.47) goes for the Charleston. Cory Taylor (3-0, 1.93) will start for Augusta. First pitch is 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier