SAL1 Lexington Legends

Hickory Tops Legends 8-7 with Run in 9th

Published on May 25, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


(HICKORY, N.C.) Drew Robinson's bases-loaded single in the ninth inning broke a 7-7 tie and gave the Hickory Crawdads an 8-7 victory over the Lexington Legends Friday night.

The Legends took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Zach Johnson's two-run homer. The two runs batted in gave him 51 for the season, which leads the South Atlantic League.

Hickory rallied with three runs in the bottom of the third. A walk to Jhonny Gomez, a single by Rougned Odor and a double by Zach Cone produced two runs. Cone went to third on a single by Hanser Alberto and scored when Lexington starter Luis Cruz committed a balk, giving Hickory a 3-2 lead.

The Legends responded in the top of the fourth on a single by Roberto Pena and a two-run homer by Chris Epps to regain the lead at 4-3.

That margin lasted until the bottom of the seventh. Gomez led off with a single, moved to third on a double by Odor and scored on a single by Luis Sardinas to tie the game. After Evan Grills relieved Cruz, Chris Grayson fouled out, but Cone singled to score Odor with the go-ahead run. Sardinas and Cone executed a double steal, and both scored on a single by Alberto, giving Hickory a 7-4 lead.

The Legends came back to tie the game in the eighth. Johnson led off with a walk, moved to second on a single by Matt Duffy and came around to score when Odor, the second baseman, threw past first for an error when attempting to complete a double play on a grounder hit by Epps. Mike Kvasnicka followed with his fourth home run of the year to tie the game at 7-7, setting the stage for Robinson's game winner in the ninth.

Grayson led off the ninth with a double. Cone walked, and Alberto reached when pitcher Nathan Pettus bobbled his sacrifice bunt for an error, leaving the bases loaded. Robinson then bounced a single through the right side of the Legends' drawn-in infield to win the game.

Hickory reliever Phil Klein (4-0), who entered the game in the ninth inning, picked up the win. Nathan Pettus (0-4), who relieved Grills at the start of the eighth inning, took the loss.

Each team has won one game in the series, which continues Saturday. Game time is 6 p.m.

Check out the Lexington Legends Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 25, 2012


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