Lex Legends
Manny Olloque’s double in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Nick Dini from second base and gave the Lexington Legends a 2-1 walk-off win over the Columbia Fireflies in the second game of a doubleheader in front of 7,047 fans Sunday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Andre Davis (4-2) struck out 11 batters, walked none, and allowed five hits in a complete-game victory.
South Atlantic League doubleheader games are a regulation seven innings in length.
In the opening game, Columbia starter Jake Simon and relievers Adonis Uceta and Matt Blackham teamed up for a two-hitter as the Fireflies blanked the Legends 3-0.
Dash Winningham’s three-run homer in the fourth inning provided all the scoring. Andres Gimenez doubled and Michael Paez walked before Winningham hit his fifth home run of the season.
Simon (2-2), allowed two hits in five and one-third innings. Uceta struck out two batters with the bases loaded in the sixth, and Blackham pitched a scoreless seventh for his first save. Lexington starter Travis Eckert (2-3) took the loss. He gave up five hits, struck out nine batters and walked three.
The Legends took the lead in game two with a run in the first inning. Rudy Martin singled, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice by Marten Gasparini, and scored on a base hit by Kort Peterson.
Columbia tied the game in the fifth when Ali Sanchez singled and scored the tying run on a double by Desmond Lindsay.
The score remained 1-1 until the bottom of the seventh. Dini led off with a double to left field, and after Joe Dudek was intentionally walked, Olloque lined a hit over the head of right fielder Gene Cone, scoring Dini with the winning run.
Columbia starter Harol Gonzalez (2-4) also pitched a complete game and took the loss.
Each team won two games in the series.
Former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow played left field for Columbia in both games. He had no hits in six at bats, including five strikeouts.
The Legends open a three-game series in Asheville Monday afternoon. Game time is 4:05 p.m.
