Legends Utilize the Long Ball in Game One Victory Over Hagerstown

WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK (Lexington, KY) - After a close first three innings, the Lexington Legends were able to beat the visiting Hagerstown Suns, 10-7. The Legends improve their record to 9-5 while the Suns' record drops to 3-11.
The Suns sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning. Cole Freeman reached on a walk then advanced to third on an error on the groundball hit by Luis Garcia. With runners at the corners, Juan Soto lined an RBI double to right field, putting the Suns up 1-0. An RBI single by Anderson Franco scored, Garcia. Yasel Antuna singled in Soto, then scored the final run of the inning off an RBI by Nick Banks. After the top of the first, the Suns led 4-0.
The Legends answered in the bottom of the inning. Cal Jones and Travis Jones reached on back-to-back walks, then Nick Pratto loaded the bases with a single to right field. With MJ Melendez at the plate, Cal Jones scored on a wild pitch, cutting into the Suns lead, 4-1. Dennicher Carrasco lined an RBI single to left field scoring Travis Jones. Pratto scored on an RBI triple by Vance Vizcaino. Down by one run, Vizcaino tied the game at four when he scored on an RBI single by Marten Gasparini.
Tied 4-4, the Suns were able to plate one run in the second. Soto reached on a single to right field, then scored on a ground-out by Yasel Antuna and the Suns led 5-4. The Legends answered in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly by Travis Jones, scoring Aracena and tying the game at 5-5.
In the third, an RBI single by Hagerstown's Freeman plated a run, and the Suns took the lead again, 6-5. A solo home run by Lexington's MJ Melendez in the bottom of the third tied the game at six runs each.
The Legends were able to hold the Suns scoreless in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, Nick Pratto blasted a two-run home run, putting the Legends ahead, 8-6. The Legends would score again in the seventh, after Travis Jones reached on a lead-off double. With Pratto at the plate, Jones swiped third, but then scored on a throwing error by the catcher, further extending Lexington's lead 10-6.
Carter Hope earned the win for the Legends, tossing 3.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit while striking out five and not walking a batter. Tomas Alastre was given the loss, throwing 3.0 innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits while walking three and striking out two.
The same two teams meet tomorrow night for the second game of the series at Whitaker Bank Ballpark at 7:05 p.m. The Legends will send RHP Andres Sotillet (0-1, 1.93 ERA) to the mound and the Suns are TBA.
The Legends, a Class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and member of the South Atlantic League, play all home games at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington, Kentucky. For ticket information, call (859) 422-7867 or visit LexingtonLegends.com.