SAL1 Lexington Legends

Legends Take Two from Savannah on Final Day

Published on September 5, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


The Lexington Legends weren't in the South Atlantic League Southern Division race, but they figured prominently in its outcome.

The Legends' doubleheader sweep over Savannah Monday, the final day of the season, coupled with Augusta's win over Rome, allowed Augusta to claim the South Atlantic League Southern Division second half championship. Augusta had trailed Savannah by 1 1/2 games going into Monday's action, but the GreenJackets finished three percentage points ahead in the final standings. Had Savannah won either of the two games with Lexington Monday, the Sand Gnats would have finished first in both halves of the season. In that case, the second playoff spot would have gone to Greenville, which had the best overall record among remaining teams.

The Legends won the two seven-inning games by scores of 2-1 and 3-2.

After a three-and-a-half hour rain delay, Savannah scored a run in the top of the first inning of the opening game when Wilfredo Tovar walked, moved to second on a single by Rafael Fernandez, and came home on a base hit by Albert Cordero.

The Legends tied it in the bottom of the third. Singles by Tyler Burnett and Domingo Santana put runners at first and second. After Telvin Nash struck out and Mike Kvasnicka grounded into a force play at second, Emilio King singled to right field, scoring Burnett with the go-ahead run.

The Legends' bullpen made the lead stand up with four perfect innings of relief. Alex Sogard, who replaced starter Carlos Quevedo at the start of the fourth inning, retired all nine batters he faced in the next three innings, striking out four. Jorge DeLeon retired the Sand Gnats in order in the seventh to earn his 16th save of the season.

Sogard (3-4) got the win. Savannah starter Michael Hebert (3-2), who pitched the complete game for Savannah, took the loss.

The Legends took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. Delino DeShields Jr. led off with a single, moved to second on Ben Orloff's ground out and to third on a passed ball. He scored when King grounded out to first base.

Walks to Mike Kvasnicka and Bryce Lane, followed by Ruben Sosa's double, produced another run for Lexington in the second inning.

The Legends scored their final run in the third on King's triple and a single by Nash.

After Ruben Alaniz pitched five scoreless inning for Lexington, Savannah broke through against reliever Murilo Gouvea in the sixth. A single by Fernandez and a double by Dustin Lawley put runners on second and third with no outs. Joe Bonfe's ground out to second scored Fernandez, and Lawley came home on a base hit by Aderlin Rodriguez to cut the Legends lead to one. But the inning ended when Juan Torres lined out to first baseman Tyler Burnett, and Rodriguez was doubled off first base.

The Sand Gnats threatened again in the final inning against Brian Streilein. Luis Nieves led off with a single to left field. He was sacrificed to second by Alonzo Harris and moved to third when Gamboa grounded out to shortstop. Streilein got Tovar on a pop-up to second baseman Hector Rodriguez in short center field. Alaniz (7-10) got the win. Taylor Whitenton (5-5), the first of five Savannah pitchers used in the game, was the losing pitcher.

The Legends finished with an overall record of 59 wins and 79 losses, 35-35 in the first half and 24-44 in the second. Two games that were rained out near the end of the season were not made up.

The Legends will open the 2012 season April 5 at Greensboro and will play their first home game April 12 against Kannapolis.

Attendance 4,466

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South Atlantic League Stories from September 5, 2011


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