Kannapolis Scores in Ninth for 6-5 Win over Legends; O'Hearn Homers Again
Published on May 25, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release
Lexington's Chase Vallot hit a home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game, but Kannapolis pushed across a run in the bottom of the ninth to win 6-5 in the opener of a three-game series Monday night in Kannapolis.
John Ziznewski led off the bottom of the ninth with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Eddy Alvarez. After Christian Stringer walked, both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Louie Lechich was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Ryan Leonards followed with a single to left field, scoring Ziznewski with the winning run.
Lexington's Ryan O'Hearn hit his South Atlantic League-leading 12th home run of the season in the first inning. The homer was O'Hearn's third in three games and fourth in his last five games.
Kannapolis responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Eddy Alvarez drew a leadoff walk, and Stringer was hit by a pitch. A single by Lechich scored Alvarez, and Stringer came home on a throwing error by right fielder Elier Hernandez as Lechich took second. Lechich advanced to third on a ground out by Leonards and scored on a ground out by Brett Austin.
Each team scored a run in the fourth, leaving Kannapolis with a 4-2 margin.
The Legends tied the game in the fifth. Kyle Pollock reached first base on an error by Leonards, the third baseman. Pollock moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Corey Toups, who came home on a triple by Alfredo Escalera.
Kannapolis broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth when Stringer singled, moved to second on a ground out, stole third and came home on a base hit by Leonards.
The score remained 5-4 until Vallot homered in the ninth.
Matt Cooper (1-0), who entered the game in the eighth inning, got the win. Emilio Ogando (2-3) took the loss for Lexington.
The series continues Tuesday night. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 25, 2015
- Tourists Come Back to Defeat Gnats 5-3 on Memorial Day - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Despite Mateo's Heroics, RiverDogs Fall 4-2 - Charleston RiverDogs
- 'Dads Mash Way to Memorial Day Win - Hickory Crawdads
- GreenJackets Lose Heartbreaker - Augusta GreenJackets
- Hickory Overpowers Delmarva, 10-3 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Drive Defeat GreenJackets, 5-3 - Greenville Drive
- Kannapolis Scores in Ninth for 6-5 Win over Legends; O'Hearn Homers Again - Lexington Legends
- Leonards Provides Walk-Off Hit to Beat Legends - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power Get past Lakewood 4-2 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Power Come Back to Top BlueClaws 4-2 on Monday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Joey Terdoslavich Joins Rome - Rome Emperors
- Crawdads Promo Preview - Hickory Crawdads
- Intimidators Receive 8th Rounder Ziznewski; League's Top Pitcher Guerrero Placed on DL - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
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