SAL1 Lexington Legends

Bats Come Alive In 7-4 Series Opening Win

Published on May 12, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


APPLEBEE'S PARK (Lexington, KY) -- The Lexington Legends won consecutive games at home for only the second time in 2008 with its 7-4 win over the Hagerstown Suns. Lexington starter Anthony Bello earned his first victory of the season and right fielder Russell Dixon homered and drove in three runs to pace the Legends offense in the game.

Hagerstown started the scoring early, plating single runs in the first and second inning. In the first inning Brandon Whiting doubled to lead off the game and Bill Rinehart drove him home with a single to center. The Suns added a second run in the next frame when Stephen King and Michael Burgess hit consecutive doubles extend Hagerstown's lead to two.

Lexington cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the second inning with their first run of the night. Hagerstown starter Brad Peacock started the inning by hitting Eric Taylor. Max Sapp, who the Legends recently activated from the disabled list, then doubled Taylor home.

The Legends plated three more runs in the third inning to take the lead. The first Lexington run came without the benefit of a hit. Matthew Cusick walked to being the inning, advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw from Peacock and moved to third on a wild pitch. Craig Corrado then walked. Collin DeLome drove Cusick home with a sacrifice fly to left. Russell Dixon then knocked his first home run of the season over the right field wall.

Hagerstown cut into the Lexington lead in the fifth inning. Stephen Englund singled to start the inning. Whiting and Daniel Lyons bunted him over to second and third respectively. Lexington appeared to escape the inning when Bill Rinehart grounded to third, but Craig Corrado committed his 13th fielding error of the season allowing Englund to score.

Lexington added single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to put the game out of reach. Consecutive singles from the Stephen and Bryan Brown plated a run in the sixth for Lexington. Dixon drove in his third run in the game in the seventh, and Matthew Cusick scored on DeLome's groundout in the eighth to give the Legends their seventh and final run.

Lexington's win was only the second victory after an off day in the season. Bello pitched six innings, allowed two runs and struck out six batters. Cusick's two hits raised his average to .388 on the season, good for best in the South Atlantic League.

The two teams will meet in the second game of the series at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the first of two "Education Days" at Applebee's Park.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 12, 2008


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