The West Virginia Power's Eric Fryer could get used to first place. The left fielder's run-scoring single in the bottom of the fourth inning provided the go-ahead run Thursday night and starter Dan Merklinger stymied the Hagerstown (Md.) Suns as the Power won its sixth straight with 3-2 victory.
The West Virginia Power's Eric Fryer could get used to first place.
The left fielder's run-scoring single in the bottom of the fourth inning provided the go-ahead run Thursday night and starter Dan Merklinger stymied the Hagerstown (Md.) Suns as the Power won its sixth straight with 3-2 victory.
A paid crowd of 3,838 attended the battle for first place in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division at Appalachian Power Park.
The Power finished the first half of the season sixth in the eight-team Northern Division, but has won 10 of its first 14 games to start the second half and climb atop the standings.
West Virginia moved into first place for the first time Tuesday night after a 4-3 win over Greensboro. The Suns (8-6) were only one game out of first place entering Thursday's play.
"It's definitely a loose clubhouse right now,'' said Fryer, who went 3-for-3 with a triple Thursday. "Everyone's joking around in there. It's really easy when you're winning games. Hopefully it continues to be that way because it's a lot more fun.''
Anderson De La Rosa cracked a leadoff solo home run down the right field line to give the Power a 1-0 lead in the third. Hagerstown knotted the game at 1-all in the top of the fourth, but West Virginia came through with some clutch at-bats to seize the momentum.
After the first two Power batters fouled out, Steffan Wilson coaxed a full-count walk, then moved to second on a passed ball. Fryer hit a liner to right field to hand West Virginia the lead for good at 2-1.
The Power extended its advantage with more big hits in the fifth. Matt Cline came up with a one-out double, hustling around first base to turn what appeared to be a bloop single to short left field into a two-base hit. After Eric Haydel struck out, Eric Farris punched an RBI single into left field for a 3-1 edge.
The West Virginia Power's Eric Fryer could get used to first place.
The left fielder's run-scoring single in the bottom of the fourth inning provided the go-ahead run Thursday night and starter Dan Merklinger stymied the Hagerstown (Md.) Suns as the Power won its sixth straight with 3-2 victory.
A paid crowd of 3,838 attended the battle for first place in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division at Appalachian Power Park.
The Power finished the first half of the season sixth in the eight-team Northern Division, but has won 10 of its first 14 games to start the second half and climb atop the standings.
West Virginia moved into first place for the first time Tuesday night after a 4-3 win over Greensboro. The Suns (8-6) were only one game out of first place entering Thursday's play.
"It's definitely a loose clubhouse right now,'' said Fryer, who went 3-for-3 with a triple Thursday. "Everyone's joking around in there. It's really easy when you're winning games. Hopefully it continues to be that way because it's a lot more fun.''
Anderson De La Rosa cracked a leadoff solo home run down the right field line to give the Power a 1-0 lead in the third. Hagerstown knotted the game at 1-all in the top of the fourth, but West Virginia came through with some clutch at-bats to seize the momentum.
After the first two Power batters fouled out, Steffan Wilson coaxed a full-count walk, then moved to second on a passed ball. Fryer hit a liner to right field to hand West Virginia the lead for good at 2-1.
The Power extended its advantage with more big hits in the fifth. Matt Cline came up with a one-out double, hustling around first base to turn what appeared to be a bloop single to short left field into a two-base hit. After Eric Haydel struck out, Eric Farris punched an RBI single into left field for a 3-1 edge.
Merklinger (3-5) shut down the Suns, surrendering just one earned run on four hits in six innings with nine strikeouts. Rob Bryson earned his fifth save, allowing one run on a hit in three innings.
Bryson set down Hagerstown in order in the seventh then an error and passed ball helped the Suns close the deficit to 3-2 in the eighth. Bryson returned to form in the ninth, fanning the first two hitters before fielding a weak grounder to end the game.
"Right now we're hitting the ball real well and our pitching is giving us a chance to stay in ballgames,'' said Fryer. "It's a good combination.''
The Power is giving every indication it is ready for a run at a second-half title. Fryer and most of the Power's roster played at Helena (Mont.) last season, capturing the first-half title in the rookie Pioneer League.
"We know what it takes to get [in the playoffs],'' Fryer said. "I think it was just a matter of getting used to the [South Atlantic] League. There's a little better pitching here and the umpires [have] different zones. Everyone's getting more comfortable in the [batter's] box [and] in the field.''
Briefly
The Power has a star-spangled Fourth of July celebration planned for today. West Virginia will play host to Hagerstown at 4:05 p.m. in the second game of the four-game series. A concert featuring the Rip Chords and Southern Course Band will follow the game and the night will end with a fireworks display. ... The first 1,000 fans will receive a special Fourth of July baseball. ... Merklinger is 3-0 in his last five starts.
Reach Tommy R. Atkinson at 348-4811 or tatkin...@wvgazette.com.
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