Lex Legends
Angelo Castellano singled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Lexington Legends completed a doubleheader sweep with a 2-1 win over the West Virginia Power Monday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
The Legends won the opening game 5-2 as Arnaldo Hernandez pitched a complete game to earn his first victory of the year.
South Atlantic League doubleheader games are seven innings in length.
In the opener, the Power scored a run in the top of the second inning when Ryan Nagle drew a one-out walk, advanced to third base on Clark Eagan’s double, and came home on Kevin Mahala’s sacrifice fly. They added a run in the fourth when Arden Pabst doubled and scored on Eagan’s single.
Emmanuel Rivera hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth for Lexington’s first run.
The Legends took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Vance Vizcaino led off with a double. Castellano put down a sacrifice bunt, and when pitcher Eduardo Vera overthrew third base, Vizcaino scored and Castellano reached second base. Castellano scored on Yeison Melo’s single for a 3-2 Lexington lead.
The Legends added two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Meibrys Viloria doubled, advanced to third after Joe Dudek flied out to left field, and scored on Vizcaino’s single. Castellano reached first on a throwing error by third baseman Trae Arbet as Vizcaino moved to second. Vizcaino then scored on Khalil Lee’s single for the final margin.
Hernandez allowed six hits, struck out five batters and walked one.
Vera (4-5) was the losing pitcher
The second game was scoreless until the top of the fifth. Andrew Walker reached first on an error by first baseman Manny Olloque, stole second, and scored on Carlos Munoz’ single.
The Legends tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Rivera and Melo.
In the bottom of the seventh, Olloque led off with a single, advanced to second on Vizcaino’s sacrifice bunt, and scored the winning run when Castellano lined a single to center field.
Legends reliever Michael Silva (1-0) pitched the sixth and seventh innings and did not give up a hit, also earning his first win in his first appearance as a Legend. He was added to the roster earlier in the day, transferring from Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League.
Power reliever Jordan Jess took the loss (0-4).
The series continues Tuesday. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
