SAL1 Lexington Legends

Harper 0-4, But Suns Top Legends 5-1

Published on April 12, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


Top draft pick Bryce Harper went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, but the Hagerstown Suns built an early 4-0 lead and went on to beat the Lexington Legends 5-1 Tuesday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.

The Suns scored twice in the top of the first inning. Randolph Oduber and Adrian Sanchez started the game with singles against Lexington starter Juan Minaya. After Harper struck out, Oduber and Sanchez attempted a double steal with David Freitas at bat. Catcher Roberto Pena's throw to third went into left field for an error, allowing Oduber to score and Sanchez to advance to third. Freitas grounded out, scoring Sanchez to give Hagerstown a 2-0 lead.

The visitors added two more in the second inning. Brett Newsome led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Blake Kelso. After Jason Martinson walked, Michael Taylor grounded into a force play at second as Newsome moved to third. Oduber walked, and Sanchez singled, scoring Newsome and Taylor.

Taylor Jordan (1-0) worked through the first five innings to get the win. He struck out five batters and walked one.

Hagerstown made it 5-0 in the seventh. Taylor reached second on an error by first baseman Tyler Burnett, and went to third after a fly ball to center field by Oduber. With the infield in, Sanchez grounded to second, and Oduber beat Delino DeShields' throw home.

The Legends scored their only run in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out triple by Daniel Adamson and a two-out double by Bryce Lane. Adamson also had a single and a double in the game, and had a chance to hit for the cycle, but struck out in the ninth inning.

Minaya (0-1) pitched the first five innings for Lexington and took the loss. Hagerstown is now 5-0 for the season. The Legends fell to 2-3.

Harper, who signed a $9.9 million contract with the Washington Nationals after being the overall top choice in the June 2010 draft, struck out in the first, second and fifth innings against Minaya, and flied out into a double play in the seventh.

Fans who held tickets for Monday night's game, which was rained out, and for Tuesday night's game, which was set to be a doubleheader after the Monday rainout, may exchange their tickets at the Legends' box office for any future Legends home game in 2011. The scheduled doubleheader Tuesday night was reduced to a single game after bad weather continued until mid-afternoon Tuesday, making it impossible to have the field in playable condition by 5:05 p.m., when the doubleheader was scheduled to begin.

The series will continue with a doubleheader Wednesday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. The first of two seven-inning games will begin at 5:05 p.m.

Check out the Lexington Legends Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 12, 2011


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