Three Early Homers Help Legends Take 8-2 Win over Rome
June 2, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release
(WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK, Lexington, Ky.) Three home runs in the first two innings helped the Lexington Legends build an early four-run lead, and the Legends went on to an 8-2 win over the Rome Braves 8-2 Saturday night in front of a crowd of 6,200 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Zach Johnson singled and Matt Duffy homered to left field. Chris Epps followed Duffy's shot with a home run of his own, and the Legends led 3-0 after one inning.
Jimmy Howick's solo homer with two outs in the second made the score 4-0 Lexington.
Rome got on the board in the top of the third. Elmer Reyes led off with a single and came around to score when Fernando de los Santos doubled to center field, leaving the Legends margin at 4-1.
The Braves inched closer in the seventh. Cory Brownsten led off with a walk. He scored on a two-out double by Kyle Kubitza.
Lexington answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Delino DeShields Jr. led off with a bunt single. Jordan Scott's bunt was fielded by Rome pitcher Ian Thomas, whose throw to second went into center field for an error, allowing DeShields to go to third as Scott reached first. Two outs later, Epps grounded to short, and Reyes' throw to first was in the dirt, allowing both DeShields and Scott to score and giving Lexington a 6-2 lead.
The Legends added two more runs in the eighth. Howick and Scott walked, and Johnson then singled to center field, driving home Howick and moving Scott to second. The run batted in was Johnson's 54th of the year. He is tied with Hagerstown's Jason Martinson for the South Atlantic League lead. Duffy followed with a double that plated Scott to wrap up the scoring.
Nathan Pettus (1-4) got the win after allowing just one run in three and two thirds innings. He relieved Richard Rodriguez, who made the start after joining the Legends earlier in the day from extended spring training. Murilo Gouvea finished the final two and a third innings. He didn't allow a run and picked up his first save of the season.
Rome starter Greg Ross (0-4) allowed four runs in five innings and was handed the loss.
The Legends and Braves will wrap up their four game series Sunday afternoon at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.
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