Downes' 5-for-5 night leads Legends to 9-3 win

     Brandon Downes led an 18-hit attack with a five-for-five night, and the Lexington Legends rolled to a 9-3 win over the Savannah Sand Gnats Friday night in Savannah.  

                Downes had a triple, three doubles and a single. He also drove in a run and stole a base. Six of the Legends' nine offensive starters had at least two hits. The 18-hit total was a season high for the Legends.

                The Legends got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning when Alfredo Escalera, who had three hits in the game, singled with one out. Ryan O'Hearn followed with his eighth home run of the year, giving Lexington a 2-0 lead. O'Hearn is tied fo r the South Atlantic League lead in homers with Austen Smith of Asheville.

                The Legends added a run in the third on a double by Escalera and a single by Wander Franco, but Savannah rallied with three runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game. Luis Guillorme drove in a run with a bunt, and two more runs came home on an error by O'Hearn, the first baseman.

                Lexington took a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning when Downes doubled and scored on a single by Luis Villegas. They added a run in the eighth when Downes doubled again and came home on a single by Carlos Garcia.

                A four-run ninth wrapped it up for Lexington. O'Hearn led off with a single and moved to second on a single by Elier Hernandez. Franco's double drove home a run, and with one out, Humberto Arteaga reached on a fielder's choice and a throwing error by second baseman Jean Rodriguez.   Hernandez and Franco scored on the play. Downes followed with his third double, scoring Arteaga and giving the Legends a 9-3 lead.

                Emilio Ogando (2-1) got the win. He entered the game at the start of the fifth inning and worked the next four innings. He allowed two hits and no runs, walked one and struck out five. Starter Foster Griffin worked the first four innings. He gave up four hits and three runs, only one earned. Evan Beal pitched a scoreless ninth for Lexington.  

                Savannah reliever Alberto Baldonado (0-4) took the loss.

  The Legends have won the first two games of the four-game series, which continues Saturday. Game time is 7:05 p.m.