Legends Spoil Moncada's Debut with 13-11 Win
May 18, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release
Greenville, SC - Excitement was high at Fluor Field on Monday night for Yoan Moncada's professional debut with the Greenville Drive (21-16), but the Lexington Legends (17-20) crashed the party, using a six-run sixth inning to come away with a 13-11 victory. The loss snapped the Drive's six-game winning streak.
Batting sixth in the order, Moncada made four plate appearances on Monday night. He went 0-3, but reached base twice via a walk and an error and scored a pair of runs. He also made several terrific defensive plays at second base, including a leaping catch on a line drive in the third inning.
Trailing 8-7 in the top of the sixth inning, the Legends struck for six runs against Drive reliever Carlos Pinales (1-1). With two men on, Elier Hernandez popped a two-run triple to center field to give Lexington the lead. They continued to pile on from there, as a Drive error allowed a third run to score, Brandon Downes hit an RBI groundout to plate another, and Chase Vallot capped the inning with a towering two-run homer down the left field line.
The Drive made things interesting with a three-run seventh inning to cut the score to 13-11. Rafael Devers doubled off the center field wall to lead things off and later scored on Nick Longhi's sacrifice fly. After Moncada reached on an error, Michael Chavis demolished a two-run homer high off the condos in left center field for his team-leading fourth long ball of the year.
Jake Newberry (1-1) got the win for the Legends after allowing only one earned run in four and one-third innings of relief, and Matt Strahm finished the game off to collect his fourth save.
The Legends took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the third, but the Drive took advantage of shaky Lexington defense for a seven-run inning. Longhi delivered an RBI single in the frame, and Derek Miller's three-run double was the big blow.
Devers was the lone Drive starter with a two-hit night. Chavis and Miller each drove in three runs, while Longhi drove in a pair. Vallot and Ryan O'Hearn had three hits apiece, and Humberto Arteaga, Alfredo Escalera, Wander Franco and Corey Toups all chipped in with two hits.
The series continues on Tuesday night at 7:05 PM at Fluor Field. LH Dedgar Jimenez (2-1, 2.40) takes the ball for the Drive, and the Legends will send RH Corey Ray (0-2, 4.85) to the mound.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 18, 2015
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