Legends Take Down Drive in 5-4 Victory

WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK (Lexington, KY) - It was a close game throughout all nine innings between the Lexington Legends and the Greenville Drive, but another Legends home run secured their fifth win of the season with a 5-4 victory. The Legends improve their record to 5-1 overall while the Drive drops to 2-4.
The Drive were the first to strike in the first inning. Kervin Suarez led off with a groundball to Legends second baseman, Oliver Nunez, who overthrew the ball to first baseman, Nick Pratto. Suarez then advanced to third on another error and scored off an RBI single by Michael Osinski. The Drive led 1-0 after the first inning.
The Legends had an answer in the bottom of the first after Gasparini reached on a one-out double. An RBI double to left centerfield by Nick Pratto brought Gasparini home, and the Legends and Drive were tied at one run each.
More errors in the third allowed the Drive to retake the lead. Samuel Miranda reached on an error by centerfielder Michael Gigliotti, and scored on the second error of the inning, putting the Drive on top 2-1. The Drive scored again in the fifth after Frankie Rios reached base on a lead off walk. Rios advanced to second on a hit by pitch by Samuel Miranda. With two runners on, Suarez loaded the bases with a single. CJ Chatham then roped an RBI single into right field, scoring Rios, but Miranda was thrown out at the plate and the Drive led 3-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Nunez reached on a leadoff double then scored on an RBI single, cutting the Drive's lead to one run. The Legends tied the game in the sixth after Travis Jones reached on a leadoff single to left field then swiped second. He was able to advance to third on another Drive error, and scored on a fielder's choice by Vance Vizcaino.
In the seventh inning with the game tied at four, Michael Gigliotti blasted his first home run of the season over the right field wall as the tie breaker, and winning run of the ballgame. The Legends were able to hold on to the one run lead, and beat the Drive 5-4.
Nolan Watson started the game for the Legends and tossed 5.1 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out six. Carter Hope earned the win for the Legends, throwing 2.2 innings and did not give up an earned run. Sal Biasi closed out the game for Lexington in the ninth, striking out the side, allowing one hit.
The same two teams meet Wednesday, April 11 at 10:35 a.m. for the series finale at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. The Legends will send LHP Garrett Davila 0-0, 6.00 ERA to face Greenville's RHP Kutter Crawford 0-0, 1.80 ERA.
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.