Lex Legends
Emmanuel Rivera had four hits, including a home run, and four runs batted in as the Lexington Legends rolled to an 11-6 win over the Hickory Crawdads Monday night in Hickory. Khalil Lee had three hits and a home run for the Lexington. The Legends built a 9-3 lead in the first three innings.
The win gave the Legends a split in the four-game series.
Rivera hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and the Legends came back with three runs in the second. With one out, Marten Gasparini singled, and Lee followed with his 11th home run of the season. A double by Angelo Castellano and a single by Rivera produced another run, and the Legends led 5-0.
After Hickory scored a run in the bottom of the second, the legends pulled away with four runs in the third. John Brontsema was hit by a pitch, and Manny Olloque reached base safely on an error by third baseman Ti’Quan Forbes. Brontsema went to third on the play. After Olloque stole second, Yeison Melo walked, loading the bases. A walk to Gasparini forced in a run, and a single by Lee brought Olloque and Melo home. After Castellano grounded into a force play at second base, Rivera singled, scoring Gasparini and giving the Legends a 9-1 lead.
The Crawdads answered with two in the bottom of the third on run-scoring hits by Alex Kowalczyk and Forbes. The score remained 9-3 until the seventh when Hickory scored three runs. Franklin Rollin led off with a triple and scored on a single by Leody Taveras. Taveras came home on a double by Carolos Garay, and Garay scored on a single by Kowalczyk.
The Legends closed out the scoring with two runs in the eighth inning, when Melo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Gasparini singled home a run.
Lexington starter Garrett Davila (5-2) pitched six innings and got the win. He gave up six hits and three runs, and struck out six batters and walked two.
Hickory starter Michael Matuella (0-3) was the losing pitcher.
The Legends will begin a six-game homestand Tuesday night with the opener of a three-game series against Asheville. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Attendance 1, 425
