Jim Goulart

Huntsville Site Game Summary: Nelson Lifts Stars to Walk-Off WinBrad Nelson slammed a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Stars to a dramatic 6-5 come-from-behind win over Birmingham Wednesday night in the rain at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars improved to 8-7 in the second half and moved into a three-way tie for the top spot in the North Division after both Carolina and West Tenn suffered defeats, while the Barons dropped to 10-4 in the second half and remain on top in the South Division. The two teams played through a steady drizzle all night, as the much-anticipated heavier rains from Tropical Storm Cindy never materialized. Guilder Rodriguez singled off of Dwayne Pollok with one out in the ninth and was forced at second base for the second out on a Vinny Rottino ground ball that was fielded smartly at third base by Josh Fields, the 18th overall selection in the 2004 amateur draft. Nelson then got ahead in the count 2-0 and sent an opposite field blast over the wall in left field over a leaping Jerry Owens for his second home run since rejoining the Stars on June 30. Nelson also singled in a run in the third inning and has reached base in 19 of his 28 plate appearances in a Huntsville uniform. Rottino and Enrique Cruz hit solo home runs off of Paulino Reynoso, who had yielded only two all season in 33 innings, in the eighth inning to knot the game at three. Brandon Gemoll followed with a double and scored on a Nelson Castro single to put the Stars ahead for the first time in the series at 4-3. It was Castro?s first run batted in with Huntsville in 26 at-bats. Mitch Stetter was brought on to pitch in the ninth inning for the Stars and allowed a bunt single to Jerry Owens and a base hit to Andy Gonzalez before retiring Casey Rogowski on a pop up for the first out of the frame. Chris Young bounced into a force play at second base and Ryan Sweeney followed with a double off the wall in right field to chase home Owens and Young to put Birmingham back on top at 5-4. Fields then singled to left but Nelson gunned down Sweeney trying to score for the final out of the inning. The Barons had two runners thrown out at third base and a pair at the plate. Young and Rogowski hit solo home runs to help the visitors move out to a 3-1 lead against Stars? starter David Bradley, making his fourth start of the season. The right-hander allowed three runs, two earned, over five innings. Daniel Haigwood made his first start at the double-A level for Birmingham and yielded a lone run on three hits and five walks over 6 2/3 innings. The southpaw struck out seven and did not allow a hit after Nelson?s run-scoring single in the third. Khalid Ballouli worked two scoreless innings in relief for the Stars, who also received a scoreless relief frame from Mike Meyers. The series wraps up Thursday night with left-hander Ryan Costello taking the hill for the Stars against Barons right-hander Kris Honel. Coverage of the game gets underway at 6:50 p.m. central time on ESPN 1450 AM and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

Final: Helena 10, Great Falls (White Sox) 8 Lineup still relentless on most nights... Helena Box Score: H-Crew pitchers torched for 19 base hits; hey, although hitless in this one, great to see 2005 12th round pick John Alonso back in there -- he missed over a week with what we believe was a leg-related injury... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1 Helena Game Log: Charlie Fermaint nails a runner at the plate in the 2nd; three ugly Brewer errors within a couple of pitches in the 6th; the huge Helena 7th is textbook beauty; only a double play ended the madness which was this game... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

In progress, Game Two: New Orleans (Nationals) 6, Nashville 6, top of the 5th in New Orleans (scheduled for seven) Pretty exciting night throughout -- if nothing else, the Sounds have made the final audio opportunity of the night very interesting -- I know the Stars and Sounds have helped my Milwaukee loss hangover this evening...

Links to follow Thursday's action as it happens: Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nozaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_clrafx_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Jeff Housman at New Orleans (Nationals), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: LHP Ryan Costello at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ If that link is down for bandwidth, use: specs.eyecentric.com/pres...opup.shtml Brevard County: TBD at Clearwater (Phillies), 6:05 PM; no audio for this series West Virginia: LHP Greg Kloosterman at Hagerstown (Mets), 6:05 PM Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: LHP Derek Miller at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 8:00 PM; unfortunately, no web audio for this series... Arizona: Idle

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In progress, Game Two: New Orleans (Nationals) 6, Nashville 1, bottom of the 3rd in the Big Easy Old friend Kevin Orie just took Ben Hendrickson deep for a three-run dinger...

By the way, Brad Nelson ended the Birmingham 9th by throwing out a man at the plate -- so he had a heck of an inning! Brad has reached in 19 of 28 plate appearances since re-joining the Stars...

Final: Huntsville 6, Birmingham (White Sox) 5 Walk-off two-out, two-run HR for Brad Nelson -- hope you were listening! Huntsville Box Score: Vinny Rottino and Enrique Cruz had homered in the 8th to tie the game, then Nelson Castro singled home Brandon Gemoll, who had doubled -- then came the 9th, with Stetter one-out away before losing the lead -- Stars now 8-16 in one-run games, thanks to Brad's heroics! www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

In progress: Birmingham (White Sox) 5, Huntsville 4, bottom of the 9th in Huntsville Mitch Stetter just blew the save as the Stars had rallied in the 8th to take a 4-3 lead; barring a comeback, that hurts a lot more than laying down to lose as it appeared would be the case a short while ago...

West Virginia Site Game Summary: MURRAY'S THREE RUN HOMER NOT ENOUGH IN POWER LOSSCharleston, WV ? Josh Murray became the team leader in home runs for the Power on Wednesday night when he hit a three-run homer, his seventh of the year to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Legends then scored the next three runs of the game to beat the Power 7-4. The Legends drew first blood scoring three times in the top of the third inning on an RBI double from Bryan Triplett and a two-run double from J.R. Towles. The Legends added another run in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run off the bat of Ole Sheldon. The Legends took their 4-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning, where the Power scored four times to tie the game. Josh Brady knocked in the first run on an RBI single and Murray tied the game during the next at-bat with a three-run homer. In the top of the seventh inning Lexington took the lead when Kevin Vital hit a groundball to second base, which was bobbled by Hernan Iribarren and allowed J.R. Towles to score. In the eighth inning Clint McGill smacked an RBI triple to give the Legends a 6-4 lead and Kevin Vital brought in the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning. Andrew Alvarado (2-0) earned the victory, Ryan Thompson (1) earned the save and Brian Montalbo (1-5) obtained the loss. The Power are 5-8 in the second half after the loss and the Legends move to 6-7 with the win. The Power will begin a four-game series with the Hagerstown Suns in Hagerstown on Wednesday night. The Power will throw LHP Greg Kloosterman (3-11, 4.16) and the Suns will counter with RHP Mike Devaney (4-1, 4.08). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

In progress: Birmingham (White Sox) 3, Huntsville 1, bottom of the 8th in Huntsville The Stars are really snoozing their fans in this series -- three hits, three errors thus far... In progress: Helena 4, Great Falls (White Sox) 3, bottom of the 5th in Helena Big nights thus far for Darren Ford, Ryan Braun, and especially Charlie Fermaint (triple, HR), the 2003 4th round pick...

Final: Brevard County 6, Clearwater (Phillies) 5 Nice bounceback win... Weather: 99 degrees, clear. Wind: 5 mph, R to L. T: 3:05. Brevard County Box Score: Ty Taubenheim with a good-enough-for-the-win effort; Manatees take advantage of gift errors, but the offense was fine, with five multiple-hit contributors; error-free defense leads to another win... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_clrafx_1 Brevard County Game Log: Manatees left the bases loaded in three innings, two of those scoreless; Ozzie Chavez's HR in the 9th wins it, as Nic Slack "survives" the save situation (actually, the win situation) -- nice... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_clrafx_1

Final: Lexington (Astros) 7, West Virginia 4 Shame to drop this one after coming back from four runs down... West Virginia Box Score: Every Mark Rogers line looks eerily mediocre -- still too many walks and extra-base hits allowed; RHP Brian Montalbo with a 9-to-0 GB/FB ratio during his stint; Hasan Rasheed on base all four times up; the Iribarren - Escobar combined error tally is now up to 43; Josh Murray has shown he's capable of the extra-base hit this season, if not much else... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: Baserunners galore for the Power, but only the one big inning, keyed by Murray's three-run HR... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

Final, Game One: Nashville 5, New Orleans (Nationals) 3 Nashville Game One Box Score: Steve Scarborough with nine HR's as of July 6th, nice story there -- Steve's free to say goodbye at season's end, and there will be a job somewhere waiting for him; you forgot that Prince Fielder is still around the .250 mark upon his return from Milwaukee; Dave Krynzel and Nelson Cruz on base three times; Gary Glover's been ever-so-solid for the Sounds... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nozaaa_1 Nashville Game One Game Log: Prince starts the 3-6-1 double play in the 3rd... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nozaaa_1

Final: Arizona Brewers 16, Arizona Cubs 8 Third win in 12 tries for the A-Crew... Weather: 98 degrees, sunny. Wind: 0 mph, None. T: 3:09 Arizona Box Score: Independent league-signee catcher Bernie Dennis now 7-for13 with four walks in the early going; seven Brewers with multiple base hits, five of them products of the Milwaukee Latin American scouting efforts; www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_cubrok_1 Arizona Game Log: Huntsville RHP Ryan Miller with another rehab inning... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_cubrok_1 Here's your ten-run eighth inning: Pitcher Change: Michael Lefort replaces Scott Williamson. Jhonathan Blanc singles on a ground ball to third baseman Luis Rivera. With Oscar Emeterio batting, Jhonathan Blanc steals (1) 2nd base. Oscar Emeterio hits a sacrifice bunt. Jhonathan Blanc to 3rd. Oscar Emeterio to 1st. Bernie Dennis III doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Deryck Lewis. Jhonathan Blanc scores. Oscar Emeterio to 3rd. Lenny Leclercq lines out to shortstop Sammy Baez. Michael Brantley singles on a ground ball to center fielder John Defendis. Oscar Emeterio scores. Bernie Dennis III scores. Anderson Delarosa singles on a ground ball to right fielder Deryck Lewis. Michael Brantley to 3rd. With Scott McKnight batting, Anderson Delarosa steals (2) 2nd base. Scott McKnight singles on a ground ball to center fielder John Defendis. Michael Brantley scores. Anderson Delarosa scores. Pitcher Change: Tyrell Moore replaces Michael Lefort. With Jose Jimenez batting, wild pitch by Tyrell Moore, Scott McKnight to 2nd. Jose Jimenez triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder John Defendis. Scott McKnight scores. Osvaldo Vicioso turns around to bat right-handed. Osvaldo Vicioso singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Episcopo. Jose Jimenez scores. Jhonathan Blanc strikes out swinging. Oscar Emeterio turns around to bat right-handed. Oscar Emeterio singles on a ground ball to shortstop Sammy Baez. Osvaldo Vicioso to 2nd. Bernie Dennis III singles on a ground ball to right fielder Deryck Lewis. Osvaldo Vicioso scores. Oscar Emeterio to 3rd. Lenny Leclercq singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Episcopo. Oscar Emeterio scores. Bernie Dennis III to 2nd. Michael Brantley singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Episcopo. Bernie Dennis III scores. Lenny Leclercq to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Erik Foor replaces Tyrell Moore. Anderson Delarosa grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Luis Rivera. Lenny Leclercq out at 3rd.

Follow-up Huntsville Press Release: Gwynn Jr. to Start All-Star GameHuntsville, AL- The Southern League of Professional Baseball has announced that Stars outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. will start for the North Division in the 2005 Southern League All-Star Game to be played on July 13th at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Gwynn Jr. was added to the all-star team on July 5th as a replacement for injured West Tenn outfielder Felix Pie. Gwynn Jr. will bat second in the lineup and be the designated hitter for manager Tony Perezchica?s team. Gwynn Jr. is currently batting .277 with 11 doubles and 29 RBI. He is second in the league with 25 stolen bases. The Huntsville center fielder was selected by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2003 draft.

Nashville Media Notes for Wednesday: www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 47 38 .553 - 25-19 22-19 W2[/b] Memphis 43 42 .506 4.0 22-19 21-23 W2 Iowa 40 46 .465 7.5 25-21 15-25 W1 Omaha 39 47 .453 8.5 14-22 25-25 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 7 5 .583 - 5-4 2-1 W1 West Tenn 8 6 .571 - 4-4 4-2 W2 [b]Huntsville 7 7 .500 1.0 2-4 5-3 L2[/b] Chattanooga 6 8 .429 2.0 3-5 3-3 L1 Tennessee 5 9 .357 3.0 1-5 4-4 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Brevard County 9 4 .692 - 3-1 6-3 L1[/b] Palm Beach 8 6 .571 1.5 4-3 4-3 W1 St. Lucie 7 6 .538 2.0 2-4 5-2 W1 Vero Beach 7 6 .538 2.0 3-4 4-2 L1 Jupiter 5 8 .385 4.0 5-2 0-6 L1 Daytona 4 10 .286 5.5 3-6 1-4 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 9 3 .750 - 6-0 3-3 W7 Hickory 8 4 .667 1.0 3-2 5-2 L1 Lakewood 8 4 .667 1.0 5-3 3-2 L2 Lake County 6 6 .500 3.0 4-3 3-3 W2 Greensboro 5 7 .417 4.0 0-2 5-5 L2 Lexington 5 7 .417 4.0 4-4 1-3 L5 [b]West Virginia 5 7 .417 4.0 4-0 1-7 W2[/b] Hagerstown 3 9 .250 6.0 1-3 2-6 L5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Helena 11 3 .786 - 3-1 8-2 L2[/b] Billings 9 5 .643 2.0 2-3 7-2 L1 Great Falls 5 9 .357 6.0 4-6 1-3 W2 Missoula 3 11 .214 8.0 1-8 2-3 W1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------Arizona League Standings: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...mp;lid=121 Stats and League Leaders, USA Today (or go to MILB.com): www.usatoday.com/sports/b.../index.htm

Links to follow Wednesday's action as it happens: Nashville Game One: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nozaaa_1 Nashville Game Two: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nozaaa_2 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_clrafx_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1 Arizona: Not updated live, but usually later during the overnight... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_cubrok_1

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times Central except for Arizona League; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP's Gary Glover and Ben Hendrickson in a doubleheader at New Orleans (Nationals), 4:45 PM pre-game; 5:05 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: RHP David Bradley at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ If that link is down for bandwidth, use: specs.eyecentric.com/pres...opup.shtml Brevard County: RHP Ty Taubenheim at Clearwater (Phillies), 6:05 PM; no audio for this series West Virginia: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. Lexington (Astros), 6:05 PM Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: RHP Tyler Morrison at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 8:00 PM; unfortunately, no web audio for this series... Arizona: TBD at the teeny-tiny Cubbies' complex, 11:30 AM local time in Arizona; never any audio for this league

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Brevard County Site Game Summary: CUBS END MANATEES STREAK AT FIVE DAYTONA, FL ? After winning five straight for the first time this season the Manatees couldn?t continue their streak as they fell to the Daytona Cubs 8-1 Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Starter Luis Pena (2-4) allowed six runs on nine hits including a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth before being replaced to start the sixth by Ken Durost. It was just Durost?s third appearance in a month for the Manatees. Ben Diggins also pitched an inning after serving at both first base and designated hitter in the past few weeks. The Manatees offense which has been hot in the second half was unable to solve Cubs pitcher Juan Mateo. They managed just five hits and one run off of him while he struck out eight. Ozzie Chavez picked up three of those hits and Adam Heether picked up an RBI double in the first inning. The Manatees now bus over to the west coast to take on the Clearwater Threshers and Dunedin Blue Jays for eight games in nine days before returning home on July 15 to take on the Ft Myers Miracle. Ty Taubenheim toes the rubber for the Manatees in the first game of the series versus the Threshers on Wednesday night at Brighthouse Networks Field.

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/news/Sports/200507069/ Ump responds on short notice Michael Dailey Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter After a long day at the office, Dave Burford was looking forward to a quiet evening at home. "I'm not exactly sure what I would have done," said Burford of his Tuesday night plans. "I would have just been doing some things around the house, writing some bills and helping my 14-year-old son get ready for a trip to Kings Island on Thursday morning." After a late afternoon phone call from West Virginia Power General Manager Andy Milovich, Burford traded his evening at home in Charleston for a much more intense after-work experience. Burford, an employee at Columbia Gas, filled in for South Atlantic League umpire Roy Prauner in the Power's 9-5 win over Lexington before 2,355 fans at Appalachian Power Park. Given the very short notice, Burford teamed admirably with SAL umpire Phil Mulroe in what was, at times, a heated contest between South Atlantic League Northern Division rivals. "Actually I didn't find out I was umpiring until I was leaving my regular day job," said Buford, a 49-year-old Charleston High graduate. "It was almost 5:30, and I was getting in my car and starting it up, when I got a phone call from the general manager. "I talked to Andy at about 5:25 and I was here at 6:15 p.m." For Burford, an umpire since his days as a student at West Virginia University in the spring of 1977, Tuesday's game wasn't his first professional gig, but it was his first at the new ballpark. "I've done some games before over at Watt Powell," said Burford, a member of the Kanawha Valley Umpires Association. "I did games when they were the Alley Cats, the Wheelers and even back when they were the Charlies in the late '70s. "This park is beautiful," said Burford, whose home on Capitol Hill overlooks the new ballyard. "The atmosphere is much different here than at Watt Powell. The people are right on top of you, where as at Watt Powell, they were a little farther from the field." That intimacy with the crowd helps keep the men in blue on their toes, but also makes it easier for disgruntled fans to have their say. "Even though the rain kept the crowd down a little bit, they were a vocal crowd tonight," said Buford. "You better believe it. "But I enjoy it. The professional and college games are much different than the high school game. "The games are quicker and the players at this level are a little faster. There are more bang, bang plays. "We had a couple of really close plays, but that's what it's all about. You've got to make tough calls." The Power (5-7), winners of two straight and four in a row at home, jumped on Lexington starter Evan Englebrook (6-2) early and held a 6-1 lead when they chased him from the game with two outs in the fourth. The big hit was a one-out, three-run triple by designated hitter Will Lewis in the fourth. "I was just looking for a pitch to hit with two strikes," said Lewis, a 32nd-round pick in the 2003 draft. "I was just lucky enough to get a pitch that I could drive into the gap." Lewis added an RBI single in the eighth inning, while Hernan Iribarren added three hits and Grant Richardson chipped in with a pair of RBI. West Virginia right handed starter Yovani Gallardo (2-3) picked up the win with six strong innings, while Derek DeCarlo and Robert Hinton combined to throw the final three innings, with Hinton getting his fifth save. Hinton picked up his team leading, fifth save, in allowing just one hit and no runs in the game's final 2 1/3 innings. The two teams will wrap up a brief three-game homestand tonight at 7:05 p.m. (6:05 Central). Columbia Gas employee and Charleston resident Dave Burford, who has been an umpire since 1977, had his first experience at Appalachian Power Park on Tuesday. Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Tom Hindman http://www.dailymail.com/images/Burford0706.jpg

Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section.../200507061 Lewis, Gallardo propel Power past Lexington The West Virginia Power beat the Lexington Legends 9-5 Wednesday night to pick up its fourth straight home win at Appalachian Power Park. The Power (5-7) used timely hitting, good baserunning, and solid pitching to hand the Legends their fifth straight loss and move into a tie with Lexington for fifth place in the South Atlantic League?s Northern Division. Designated hitter Will Lewis went 2-for-4 and drove in four runs for the Power, including a three-run triple in the fourth. West Virginia extended its lead as high as 7-2 before a late Legends rally. Power right-hander Yovani Gallardo (2-3) started and went six strong innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs. West Virginia is now 4-0 at home since the Sally League All-Star Game. Legends third baseman Bryan Triplett led off the game with a single and moved to third on two walks by Gallardo. First baseman Drew Sutton grounded into a double play that scored Triplett from third, giving Lexington a 1-0 lead. After a pair of scoreless innings, Legends starting pitcher Evan Englebrook walked the first three batters he faced in the second inning to load the bases and set up a Power rally. The Power got on the board on right fielder Adam Mannon?s grounder to short that scored Josh Brady from third to tie the game at 1. The next batter, Alcides Escobar, hit a grounder to shortstop Clint McGill that scored Clay Blevins from third. West Virginia resumed the scoring in a big four-run fourth that started with a Tony Festa single to center off Englebrook. After walking Mannon, Englebrook made an error trying to corral an Escobar bunt and wasn?t able to keep him from loading the bases. After Hernan Iribarren lined out, Lewis? triple cleared the bases and give the Power a 5-1 lead. First baseman Grant Richardson knocked Lewis in with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 6-1. Englebrook didn?t last much longer: In the next at-bat, he walked Hasan Rasheed and was replaced with Raymar Diaz. The Lexington starter had control problems in his 3 2/3 innings, surrendering four hits, four earned runs, four walks, and he hit two batters in the first inning. Gallardo, meanwhile, was able to hold designated hitter Hunter Pence, one of the best hitters in the South Atlantic League, in check. Pence, a Northern Division All-Star, entered the game leading the league in home runs (24) and slugging percentage (.711). Pence went 0-for-2 against Gallardo. The Legends got their second run in the top of the sixth, with right fielder Francisco Caraballo?s two-out single scoring Drew Sutton from third. The Power ran the lead back to five in the bottom of the sixth on Rasheed?s line single to right that plated Iribarren from second, making it 7-2. Iribarren had earlier swiped his 29th base. Lexington made a game of it in the top of the seventh, after Power manager Ramon Aviles made the switch to reliever Derek DeCarlo. Clint McGill doubled to start the inning, and Brandon Barganier moved him to third on a sacrifice. Pence singled in the next at-bat to score McGill for a 7-3 score. A wild pitch by DeCarlo with Sutton batting allowed Pence to move to second with two outs. Sutton promptly doubled him in. First baseman Ole Sheldon?s RBI single drew the Legends within 7-5. After a walk to Caraballo, Aviles brought in all-star Robert Hinton to put out the fire. The Power scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away. Escobar and Iribarren hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, and Lewis knocked Escobar in with a single to make it 8-5. A Richardson double scored Iribarren from third to finish the scoring. Englebrook (6-2) took the loss for Lexington (5-7). Gallardo (2-3) earned the win for the Power. Hinton pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his fifth save. The Power goes for the sweep tonight before hitting the road for Hagerstown for a two-game series. First pitch is set for 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central). Charleston Gazette Photos: Kenny Kemp Power shortstop Alcides Escobar (right) leaps over a sliding Ole Sheldon after firing to first base to complete a fourth-inning double play. Escobar took a feed from second baseman Hernan Iribarren. http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/POW1.jpg Power trainer Alan Diamond checks out Hernan Iribarren, who was hit by a pitch in the first inning. http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/POW2.jpg