PALM SPRINGS, CA — After pummeling several non-league opponents to begin the season, the POWER faced a stiff test Tuesday and passed with flying colors, defeating Team San Diego 8-5 in their first league contest.
The POWER (9-0, 1-0) raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a TSD error to open the game. T.J. Bennett doubled to drive in Ryan Raslowsky, and Jake Howeth and Ryan Jones followed with RBI groundouts to put Palm Springs ahead.
Team San Diego (10-7, 3-2) responded with two unearned runs in the second inning and another unearned run in the third to tie the game 3-3. POWER starting pitcher Kyle Crawford would settle in and retire eight TSD batters in a row over the middle innings.
The game remained tied into the bottom of the sixth inning. TSD starter Randy Wynne, who had retired 15 of the last 17 POWER batters he had faced, walked Bennett to leadoff the frame. Bennett stole second base and scored on Howeth’s RBI single. Jones followed with his second home run of the year, giving the POWER an 8-3 lead they would not relinquish.
Mark Seyler relieved Crawford in the eighth inning and recorded a five-out save, his first of the season. Crawford (3-0) earned the victory with 7 1/3 innings pitched, surrendering only two earned runs on ten hits. He struck out six and walked none. Wynne (1-1) took the loss, giving up six runs in five innings.
The POWER and Team San Diego wrap up their two-game series Wednesday at 7:05pm. Every Wednesday is Dollar Admission Wednesday, with all tickets just $1. Fans that can’t make it to the contest can listen to the game at pspbb.com.
