SAL1 Lexington Legends

Legends Take Two Wins over Hagerstown

Published on July 16, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


(WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK, Lexington, Ky.) The Lexington Legends took two wins over the Hagerstown Suns Monday night, an 11-1 victory in a game that had been suspended Sunday, and an 8-4 win in the regularly scheduled game, which was reduced to seven innings. Zach Johnson had five runs batted in the two games, and now leads the South Atlantic League with 76 RBI.

The Suns scored their only run of game one when Brian Goodwin led off Sunday with a home run.

The Legends plated six runs in the bottom of the first. Delino DeShields Jr. walked to lead off, and then stole his 66th base, which leads the South Atlantic League. Ruben Sosa's single moved DeShields to third, and Nolan Fontana walked to load the bases. Matt Duffy was hit by a pitch to force DeShields home with the tying run, and Johnson's sacrifice fly scored Sosa, putting the Legends in front 2-1.

Justin Gominsky walked to re-load the bases, and after Mike Kvasnicka struck out, Jose Fernandez doubled to right, scoring Fontana and Duffy. Ryan McCurdy followed with a single, scoring Fernandez and Gominsky, and the Legends led 6-1.

The Legends extended their lead to 8-1 with two runs in the third on RBI singles by Sosa and Fontana.

The game was suspended in the fourth inning Sunday, and resumed at that point on Monday.

Lexington added another run in the sixth when Gominsky singled and scored on Fernandez' double to right field.

In the bottom of the seventh, Brandon Meredith, Sosa and Fontana walked to load the bases, and Duffy and Johnson followed with sacrifice flies for Lexington's final two runs.

Mitchell Lambson (1-0) who entered the game as it resumed Monday, got the win. He tossed four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.

Hagerstown starter Chris McKenzie (2-3) allowed six runs in two-thirds of an inning, and picked up the loss in the suspended game.

In the regularly scheduled game, the Legends jumped in front with a run in the first inning when DeShields walked and scored on Johnson's double.

The Legends broke the game open with five runs in the second. Gominsky led off with a single, and scored on Mike Kvasnicka's 11th home run of the year. Then with one out, Luis Alvarez tripled to right-center and scored on DeShields' single. Fontana then hit a two-run homer to right field, and the Legends were on top 6-0. It was the first home run as a professional for Fontana, who was chosen in the second round of the 2012 draft by Houston after an outstanding college career at the University of Florida.

Hagerstown got on the board with one run in the fourth when Goodwin doubled, advanced to third on a single by Burns, and scored on Steven Souza's sacrifice fly to center field.

Lexington answered with two more runs in the fourth. Alvarez led off with a single, and moved to third on DeShields' double. One out later, Johnson doubled down the right field line, scoring Alvarez and DeShields, and the Legends had an 8-1 lead.

The Suns tried mounted a rally with three runs in the sixth, an inning that included three hits, a wild pitch, an error and a walk, but could get no closer.

Cruz (7-5) got the win, allowing four runs, two earned, in five and two-thirds innings. He left the game after being struck in the left hand by a throw from catcher Luis Alvarez on a stolen base attempt. Cruz was not seriously injured.

Hagerstown starter Kylin Turnbull (4-5) allowed six runs over two innings, and picked up the loss.

Lexington has taken two out of three games in the series with Hagerstown, which concludes Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 16, 2012


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