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SAL1 Lexington Legends

Gnats Down Legends, 5-4

August 14, 2007 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


The Savannah Sand Gnats continued a surprising display of excellent baseball as they defeated the Legends for the third evening in a row on Tuesday, 5-4 at Applebee's Park. Savannah entered the series with the worst record in the SAL's Southern Division. They have maintained that position, but have put together a three-game winning streak - a tie for their season high.

In the first, Joe Holden's home run to right made it two consecutive at bats in which he had accomplished the feat, picking up right where he left off last night-when he hit a two-run shot to give the visitors the lead in the ninth. This time, he gave the Sand Gnats the quick one-run advantage. Lexington answered in the second by loading the bases with nobody out. Unfortunately, they could only get one run out of the situation when Ralphie Henriquez hit what should have been a double play ball to the second baseman. Instead of taking the ball to the bag himself, Jonathan Santos nearly handed the ball to shortstop Luis Rivera, standing alongside him. Rivera bobbled the ball in the exchange and couldn't complete the twin killing, allowing Jimmy Van Ostrand to score from third.

With the score knotted at one, Savannah scored three unearned runs in the third. Eric Taylor's misplay of a grounder at first made it all possible, and a throwing error by Dave Qualben on a pickoff attempt only made matters worse. When the dust settled, it was 4-1, Gnats.

Savannah tacked on another run in the sixth on a wild pitch by Qualben (9-8). All told, it wasn't a bad performance by the lefty. He allowed five runs (two earned) in seven innings of work, striking out two without walking a batter.

The Legends offense tried to rescue Qualben in the sixth. Starter Jonathan Castillo (5-3) walked two of the inning's first three batters, and was lifted in favor of David Koons. The bottom of the Lexington order took advantage of the pitching change, with Henriquez, Drew Holder, and Tyler Evans all rapping singles, each driving home a run.

Lexington looked to be in a great position, only trailing by one. They had two runners on and only one out, and leadoff hitter Nick Moresi coming to the plate. He popped up down the first base line, however, and Taylor grounded out to end the inning. That was essentially the end of the Legends comeback bid. Henriquez and Holder hit back-to-back singles again in the eighth, but it amounted to nothing when neither Evans nor Moresi could drive them home. Jeramy Simmons shut the door in the ninth for his third save.

Sergio Severino (4-6, 4.29) will attempt to prevent the sweep against Greg Mullens (4-3, 4.28) on Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Game time is tomorrow at 10:35 a.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 14, 2007


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