Trae Arbet Powers West Virginia to 5-3 Victory
Entering Wednesday morning’s game, the Charleston RiverDogs were trying to end the month with a victory to put the team a game over .500 for the month. However, Trae Arbet had other ideas, ripping a three-run homerun in the fourth inning to put the West Virginia Power in front and Oddy Nunez pitched five outstanding innings to lead the visitors to the 5-3 victory. That dropped Charleston to 13-14 in May.
This was a scoreless contest through the first two innings, as James Marvel and Nick Nelson both retired the side in order in each of the first two frames. In the bottom of the third, the RiverDogs would finally break through. Isiah Gilliam started the ending by lining a single into center field, and moved to second when Dalton Blaser drew a walk. Next up was Diego Castillo, who lined a base hit into center field, scoring Gilliam and putting Charleston on top, 1-0.
The lead would not last long, however. In the top of the fourth, West Virginia would take the lead. With one down, Nelson walked both Albert Baur and Carlos Munoz. He was able to retire Hunter Owen on a pop out, but Trae Arbet drilled a three-run home run over the left-center field wall, staking the Power to the 3-1 lead.
In the top of the fifth, West Virginia extended their lead. With one down, Ty Moore drill walk, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Clark Eagan followed with a base hit into right field, sending Moore home to make the score 4-1.
Adonis Rosa relieved Nelson to start the sixth inning and retired the first batter of the frame, but Kevin Mahala turned on a Rosa offering and drilled it over the left-center field wall, near where Albert had hit his home run two innings earlier. That made the score 5-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, the RiverDogs took a bite out of that lead. Estevan Florial started the frame by reaching on a bunt single. He then stole second and moved to third when Angel Aguilar reached on an error. Hoy Jun Park followed by beating out an infield tapper, scoring Florial to make it 5-2. A sacrifice fly by Donny Sands scored Aguilar to make it 5-3. That was as close as they would get.
Oddy Nunez (1-4) retired the final 10 RiverDogs of the game to end any chance that Charleston had of coming back in this contest. He pitched 5-innings, allowing 2-hits and an earned run while striking out 3. Trae Arbet only had one-hit on the day, his three-run homer, the seventh of the season by the infielder. Kevin Mahala was 1-2 with a homer.
The Charleston RiverDogs will start June in Greenville taking on the Drive. Charleston has not named their starter. Robby Sexton (0-5, 5.12) will start for Greenville. First pitch is 7:05.
By Robert Pannier
