Lakewood Wins Series Opener 9-5

June 6, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release

Jose Pujols had a home run, a triple and two runs batted in as the Lakewood BlueClaws won the opener of a three-game series 9-5 over the Lexington Legends Monday night in Lakewood.

Samir Duenez had three runs batted in for Lexington, bringing his total for the year to 42 and moving him into a tie with David Thompson of Columbia for the South Atlantic League lead.

The Legends scored a run in the top of the first inning. D.J. Burt led off the game with a single, moved to third on a base hit by Roman Collins and scored when Duenez grounded into a force play at second base.

In the second, Xavier Fernandez reached on a two-out error by third baseman Emmanuel Marrero, advanced to second on a single by Jecksson Flores and scored on Burt's single, giving the Legends a 2-0 lead.

Lakewood took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the second. Pujols led off with his league-leading 10th home run of the year to cut the lead to 2-1. Wilson Garcia and Jan Hernandez followed with singles, and after Deivi Grullon was called out on strikes, Jiandido Tromp singled, loading the bases. Garcia and Hernandez scored when Carlos Duran's grounder got past shortstop Marten Gasparini for an error.

Ben Johnson's run-scoring single with two outs in the top of the third tied the score at 3-3, but Lakewood took the lead for good in the bottom of the third. A double by Jose Tobias and a triple by Pujols broke the tie, and Pujols came home on a sacrifice fly by Garcia, giving Lakewood a 5-3 lead.

The BlueClaws added two runs in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Marrero and an RBI double by Tobias.

Lakewood took an 8-3 lead in the sixth when Tromp reached first on an error by Gasparini, stole second and came home on a double by Marrero.

The Legends moved a run closer in the seventh on a singles by Burt and Collins and a sacrifice fly by Duenez.

Lakewood scored its final run in the eighth, and the Legends added a run in the ninth when Burt walked, Collins singled him to third and Duenez grounded into a force play at second base.

Lakewood starter Tyler Gilbert (3-5) worked the first seven innings and got the win. Legends starter Nolan Watson (1-6) was the losing pitcher.

Legends outfielder and Lexington native Anderson Miller played for the first time since April 19. He had undergone surgery to remove the hamate bone from his right wrist. He was 0-for-3 with a walk.

Game two of the three-game series will be played Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

South Atlantic League Stories from June 6, 2016

• Power Falls in Extras - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Shorebirds Outlast Power in Marathon, 9-5 - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Four-Run Lead Disappears for Second Straight Game - Asheville Tourists
• 'Dads Bats Bottled up in 5-2 Loss - Hickory Crawdads
• RiverDogs Pummel Braves, 13-4, to Open Road Trip - Charleston RiverDogs
• Lakewood Wins Series Opener 9-5 - Lexington Legends
• Riverdogs Take Braves 13-4 - Rome Emperors
• Drive and Intimidators Postponed in Kannapolis - Greenville Drive
• Intimidators, Drive Rained out on Monday - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Rain Postpones Series Opener in Augusta - Columbia Fireflies
• GreenJackets and Fireflies Postponed - Augusta GreenJackets
• Garia Sent to Double-A Frisco - Hickory Crawdads
• Conlon Named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week - Columbia Fireflies
• Conlon Named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week - Columbia Fireflies
• RiverDogs Centerfielder Hendrix Named SAL Player of the Week - Charleston RiverDogs
• Kyle Ruchim Joins Intimidators - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• RiverDogs to Participate in Community Enhancement Coalition's Presentation of "Advancing the Convers - Charleston RiverDogs
• WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Week-Long Home Stand Features Fireworks, Food, Four-Legged Friends - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Delmarva Shorebirds Game Notes for Monday, June 6 - Delmarva Shorebirds

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