Legends Split Doubleheader with West Virginia
April 26, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release
Luis Villegas drove in two runs with a home run and a double as the Lexington Legends took a 4-3 win over the West Virginia Power in the first game of a doubleheader in Charleston Sunday. The victory ended the Legends' losing streak at seven games.
The Power won the second game 5-4 after rallying for four runs in the sixth inning.
In game one, Villegas' solo homer gave the Legends a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. The Power tied it when Chase Simpson walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth.
The Legends broke the 1-1 tie with three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Elier Hernandez led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alfredo Escalera. Escalera was safe at first on a throwing error by pitcher Yeudy Garcia. Samir Duenez sacrificed the runners to second and third, and Hernandez came home on a wild pitch. Wander Franco followed with a single to score Escalera, and after Brandon Downes struck out, Villegas doubled to right field, scoring Franco and giving the Legends a 4-1 lead.
West Virginia made a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, the final regulation inning in doubleheader games in the South Atlantic League. With one out, Cole Tucker and Pablo Reyes singled, putting runners at first and second. Jordan Luplow struck out, but Taylor Gushue walked to load the bases. Michael Suchy singled home two runs to cut the lead to one, and a wild pitch by reliever Jake Newberry put the tying run at third and the winning run at second. But Newberry struck out Tito Polo to end the game.
Torey Deshazier (2-1) got the win. He pitched six innings, allowed five hits and one run, walked three batters and struck out five. Newberry allowed two runs on three hits in the seventh, but picked up his first save.
Garcia (0-2) was the losing pitcher.
The Legends got off to a quick start in the second game. Leadoff hitter Corey Toups was hit by a pitch, and Humberto Arteaga and Ryan O'Hearn followed with back-to-back homers, giving Lexington a 3-0 lead. The Legends extended the lead to 4-0 in the fourth. Downes led off with a single, moved to second on a ground out by Michael Hill and to third on an infield hit by Kyle Pollock. Downes scored on a squeeze bunt by Carlos Garcia.
Simpson's homer in the bottom of the fifth cut the Legends' lead to three at 4-1. In the sixth, Polo singled with one out, and Trace Tam Sing was hit by a pitch. After Luplow's single loaded the bases, Matt Strahm relieved starter Pedro Fernandez. Suchy walked, forcing in a run. Jerrick Suiter's single brought Tam Sing home, and Simpson's single scored Luplow and tied the game at 4-4.
Tyler Filliben was called out on strikes, but Kawika Emsley-Pai was hit by a pitch, forcing in the tie-breaking run. The Legends were retired in order in the top of the seventh.
Junior Lopez (1-0), who entered the game at the start of the sixth inning, got the win. Strahm (0-1) took the loss.
The Legends have an off day Monday, and will begin a three-game series Tuesday night against the Rome Braves at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
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