Six combined home runs and 32 total hits
Salisbury, Md. – The Delmarva Shorebirds (1-9) bullpen gave up four home runs over the final four innings as the West Virginia Power (6-5) won game three of the series, 15-10 at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Sunday night.
After the Power struck first with two runs in the top of the second, the Shorebirds answered with five runs in the bottom of the second. Planeta reached second on a hit and error and scored on a Wynston Sawyer base hit. Later in the inning, Brenden Webb scored Sawyer on a sacrifice fly. Then, Jason Esposito hit an RBI single to give the ‘Birds a 3-2 edge. Joe Velleggia followed with a two-run double to deep right field to stretch the lead to 5-2.
West Virginia countered with three runs in the third to tie the game at 5-5.
The Power took their first lead in the fifth on a triple to center field by Greg Polanco to score Ashley Ponce. Polanco scored on a groundout to second by Willy Garcia to increase the lead to 7-5.
In the sixth inning, the Power increased the lead to 10-5. Chris Lashmet hit a leadoff home run to left-center. With two outs, the top of the Power order combined for three hits to score two runs.
The Shorebirds responded in the bottom of the sixth. Esposito connected on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to trim the gap to 10-6. Then, with two outs and two aboard, Connor Narron hit a laser line drive home run to right field to cut the deficit to 10-9.
The Power pulled away with a four run eighth inning off reliever Ryan Palsha. Alen Hanson hit a leadoff homer to deep right field to stretch the lead to 11-9. Later in the inning, Willy Garcia hit a three-run homer to left-center field to give the Power a 14-9 lead.
Brenden Webb hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth, his eighth of the year. The Shorebirds did not get any closer.
Zac Fuesser, who entered in the second for Zack Dodson, earned the win over 3.1 scoreless innings. Shorebirds starter Parker Bridwell took the loss over five innings. He surrendered nine hits and seven runs.
Polanco led with Power’s 21 hit attack with a 5-for-5 day at the plate. Webb led the Shorebirds with a 3-for-4 night and two RBIs.
The Shorebirds and Power play game four of the series on Monday night at 7:05pm. For tickets and more information, contact the Shorebirds at 410-219-3112.
