SAL1 Lexington Legends

Legends Blow Late Lead

Published on August 11, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


David Mailman launched a two-run home run in the eighth inning to give the Greenville Drive their first lead of the game, and Felix Ventura pitched a scoreless ninth to defeat the Lexington Legends 4-3 in game one of a four-game series. Mailman's home run spoiled a shutout performance from Lexington starting pitcher Anthony Bello and capped a four-run comeback by the Drive offense.

Fernando Abad retired the first batter in the eighth inning before he hit David Marks with an errant pitch to put the tying run on base for Greenville. Abad struck out William Vazquez for the second out and appeared on his way to escaping the inning without any damage, but Mailman had other thoughts, launching his sixth home run of the season to right field to give Greenville the lead.

Lexington started the scoring with two runs in the first inning. Craig Corrado continued his hot hitting from the home stand by singling to lead off the game. Corrado then moved to second on a wild pitch from Felix Doubront. Eric Taylor then walked, and Corrado stole third. Pellegrini walked to load the bases before Doubront walked Kyle Miller, scoring the first run of the game. Max Sapp then plated the second run with a sacrifice fly to left field.

Doubront settled down after the first inning, holding the Legends scoreless through the next three frames. Jose Alverez relieved Doubront to start the fifth inning and the Legends greeted him with their third run of the game. Kyle Miller doubled with two outs in the inning and scored on Jonathan Fixler's single.

Lexington starting pitcher Anthony Bello turned in another strong performance and appeared on his way to winning his fifth straight start and sixth consecutive decision before the Lexington bullpen blew the lead. Bello pitched five and two-third shutout innings while scattering five hits, striking out six batters and walking three.

The Legends' newest reliever, Jack Tilghman, came on in relief of Bello and got the final out in the sixth inning before surrendering two runs in the seventh inning without recording an out.

William Vazquez singled to lead off the seventh for Greenville and moved to second when David Mailman walked. Carlos Fernandez-Oliva then brought home the first Drive run of the game with an RBI single to right. Mailman moved to third on the play, and Fernandez-Oliva moved to second on the throw home. Tilghman walked Jered Stanley to load the bases before Fernando Abad came on to stop the bleeding. Abad retired Ryan Kalish on a sacrifice fly that scored the second run of the inning, before getting Oscar Tejada to ground out to end the frame.

Alvarez earned the win for Greenville with four innings of one-run ball. Alvarez struck out four Legends in four innings and didn't walk any. Abad took the loss for Lexington after surrendering two runs in two innings of work. Ventura earned his seventeenth save of the season.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 11, 2008


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