SAL1 Lexington Legends

Legends Lose Another One-Run Game, 7-6

Published on May 15, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


APPLEBEE'S PARK (Lexington, KY) -- Occasional rain and slippery conditions could not spoil the night for the Hagerstown Suns, as a two-run home run in the top of the ninth put the Suns on top of the Legends for a 7-6 score in the series finale.

With the Legends up 6-5 in the ninth inning and a victory in sight, Hagerstown's Daniel Lyons tripled on a fly ball to center off of Legends' reliever Jay Pacella. After striking out the next batter, Pacella faced Tim Pahuta, a pinch-hitter for Aaron Seuss. Pahuta then hit a towering home run over the left field wall to put the Suns ahead for good.

Pacella (0-2) took the loss for the Legends (12-27) after blowing the save. In 1.1 innings, Pacella gave up two runs on three hits, walked one and struck out two. Erik Arnesen (3-0) took the win in relief for the Suns (19-20), as Martin Beno earned his fifth save of the year. The Suns took the series three games to one at Applebee's Park in Lexington, Ky.

Rain fell steadily on different occasions throughout the course of the game, making play difficult at times for the players.

"It was a grind," center fielder Collin DeLome said. "It was definitely not baseball weather. It was more like a football game."

The Legends battled throughout the course of the nerve-wracking and heart-pounding game that the Legends looked like they would win more than once.

Two powerful home runs by Legends outfielders gave the home team the lead twice.

In the bottom of the seventh with the game tied 5-5, DeLome connected when it counted, hitting a long fly ball over the left field wall to give the Legends a 6-5 lead.

After striking out twice on changeups, DeLome was expecting a fastball, but he just knew that he had to wait for it.

"It was a middle-away fastball. I worked the count and a lot I fouled off," DeLome said. "I was trying to hit the fastball because it was the one I was waiting for. I knew that I was going to battle. I finally got what I was looking for and I finally drove one out of the park."

Just one inning prior, Legends left fielder Brian Pellegrini made a big impression when he powered a three-run home run over the left field wall to give the Legends a 5-3 lead. This was Pellegrini's first game as a Legend after being called up Wednesday from extended spring training.

"Pellegrini played a really good game. He came in big for us," DeLome said. "He was excited because it was his first time playing as a Legend. It wasn't so much that he was under pressure but there were a lot of nerves going on and to have the hits he did was huge."

The Suns looked to be the dominant team of the night when starting pitcher Cole Kimball took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth. It was then, however, that Pellegrini broke up the no-hit bid by hitting a bloop single into right field over the first baseman's head.

"Their pitcher (Kimball) threw well and shot us down until we had that big five-run inning," pitching coach Charley Taylor said. "We had a chance to win but our pitching didn't get it done where we needed."

Legends starting pitcher Sergio Severino was not as sharp and on command as Taylor would have liked, but he did only give up three runs on eight hits while walking none and striking out four.

Kimball went the longest and pitched the best he has all season, going 5.1 innings giving up only two hits, two runs, walking six and striking out five.

With the series loss versus Hagerstown, the Legends have now lost eight of ten series. Their only series win was April 15-18 versus the Hickory Crawdads. The Legends split the series versus the Lakewood BlueClaws April 24-27.

The Legends now hit the road for an eight-game series beginning Friday versus the Lake County Captains. They will then head to Hagerstown to face the Suns once again.

Check out the Lexington Legends Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 15, 2008


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