The Lexington Legends came back from a 10-run deficit to beat the West Virginia Power 11-10 Sunday afternoon at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
The Power took the lead with four runs in the first inning. Two came home on a single by Carlos Munoz.
In the top of the third, Daniel Arribas led off with a triple and scored on a double by Ryan Nagle. Nagle went to third on a single by Tyler Filliben and scored on a base hit by John Bormann as Filliben moved to third. After Alfredo Reyes walked to load the bases, Filliben scored on a sacrifice fly by Mitchell Tolman, giving the Power a 7-0 lead.
Munoz started the West Virginia fourth with a double. He moved to third on a single by Arribas and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nagle. Filliben followed with a two-run homer, and West Virginia led 10-0.
Marten Gasparini’s solo homer in the fourth put Lexington on the board, and the Legends put the comeback in high gear in the sixth with some help from the West Virginia pitchers. With two outs and D.J. Burt on at first base, Samir Duenez drew a walk. West Virginia starter Bret Helton was relieved by Jake Burnette, who walked the next three batters, forcing in two runs. Cody Jones’ single brought home a run, and a wild pitch allowed another run to score. After Jecksson Flores walked, the Power changed pitchers again, and Amalani Fukofuka, batting for the second time In the inning, greeted reliever Julio Vivas with a double, scoring two runs and cutting the deficit to 10-7.
The Legends pulled even in the eighth inning. With one out, Jones’ solo homer made the score 10-8. Flores followed with a double and Fukofuka singled, moving Flores to third. After Fukofuka stole second, Gasparini doubled to right, scoring Flores and Fukofuka to tie the game at 10-10.
West Virginia put runners at second and third with one out in the top of the ninth, but Jacob Bodner retired Casey Hughston on a ground out to third as the runners held, and got Munoz on a fly ball to center field.
Ben Johnson led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to left field. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Xavier Fernandez, and scored on a wild pitch by Eric Karch to win the game.
Bodner (1-0), a native of Danville, Ky., and a graduate of Boyle County High School, got the win. Karch (0-1) took the loss.
The Power won three of the four games in the series.
The Legends will open a three-game series in Columbia, South Carolina Tuesday night. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The Columbia Fireflies are new to the South Atlantic League this year. The team relocated from Savannah, Georgia after last season and is still affiliated with the New York Mets.
Stanley listed as day-to-day
Legends outfielder Tanner Stanley, who was taken from the field in an ambulance after colliding with the left field wall in the first inning, suffered no serious injuries and is now listed as day-to-day. He will travel with the team on its road trip to Columbia and Hickory.
Attendance 3,878