MUNICIPAL PARK (Hagerstown, MD) – On their first road trip of 2019, the Lexington Legends fall to the Hagerstown Suns, 11-1 at Municipal Park. The Legends drop to 6-5 while the Suns improve to 6-6 on the season. Lexington continues to hold the top spot in the Southern Division of the South Atlantic League.
In the bottom of the first inning, Cody Wilson led off with a homer to center field and the Suns led 1-0.
With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, Justin Connell and Cody Wilson drew back-to-back walks. Kyle Marinconz doubled them home, extending Hagerstown’s lead 3-0. Lexington’s pitcher, Charlie Neuweiler, then tossed two wild pitches, allowing Marinconz to score. Israel Pineda and Jacob Rhinesemith both reached on singles. Gilbert Lara singled home Pineda and the Suns led 5-0.
In the third, Jamori Blash led off with a double to right field then moved to third on a passed ball by Freddy Fermin. Jose Sanchez then singled to center field and Blash scored improving the Suns’ lead to 6-0.
The Legends plated their only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Chase Vallot blasted a leadoff home run putting Lexington on the board, 6-1.
Hagerstown continued hitting in the bottom of the sixth. Pascal singled to left field then advanced to third on a single to right field by Marinconz. Pineda hit a ground ball to second baseman, Rubendy Jaquez, who committed a fielding error allowing Wilson to score and Marinconz to move to third. Rhinesmith grounded into a force out, scoring Marinconz and the Suns continued to lead 8-1.
Justin Connell was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning then advanced to third on a single by Wilson. With runners on the corners, Rhinesmith singled them both home and Hagerstown led, 10-1.
The Suns scored their final run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Pablo O’Connor led off with a single to center field then moved to second when Blash was hit by a pitch. Kyle Hinton then threw a wild pitch allowing O’Connor to move to third. Connell then popped up a sacrifice fly to right field and the Suns held onto the 11-1 lead. D
Joan Adon was awarded the victory tossing 5.0 innings allowing one run on seven hits while walking one and striking out four. Charlie Neuweiler was given the loss pitching 2.0 innings allowing five runs on five hits while walking four and striking out one.
The Legends and Suns face off for game two tomorrow, April 16 at 6:05pm. RHP Zach Haake (1-2, 2.00 ERA) will make the start for Lexington and Hagerstown will send LHP Tim Cate (0-1, 1.93 ERA) to the bump.
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.
