Legends waste Heath's three homers

Ben Heath made a name for himself in college as a power-hitting catcher and he showed why on Friday night.

The 2010 fifth-round pick blasted three homers and drove in seven runs in his fifth South Atlantic League game, but the Lexington Legends dropped a 10-8 decision to the West Virginia Power.

Heath launched a three-run shot off starter Jason Erickson with two outs in the first inning, then drilled a two-run blast in the fourth to extend the Legends' lead to 5-2.

The Penn State product went yard again in the fifth off reliever Marc Baca, becoming the first Legend to record a three-homer game since Jonathan Fixler on July 20, 2008 against Columbus.

Heath had two chances for a fourth homer, but his fly ball in the seventh was caught at the right-field fence and he walked on four pitches in the ninth. Pat Garman (Gastonia, May 20, 1988) and Anthony Mongeluzzo (Savannah, April 20, 2002) share the league record with four homers in a game.

The Astros selected Heath 153rd overall in the 2010 Draft after he broke Penn State's 32-year-old school record with 19 homers as a junior. One of two players in the country who were semifinalists for both the Johnny Bench Award and Dick Howser Trophy, he also led the Nittany Lions in batting (.369), doubles (16), RBIs (57), total bases (148), slugging percentage (.747), on-base percentage (.451) and runs scored (53).

The North Carolina native started his pro career in with short-season Tri-City and batted .248 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 37 games. He went 0-for-3 in his Class A debut but has driven in a run in each of his last four contests while raising his average to .444.

Heath helped Lexington build an 8-2 lead, but Elevys Gonzalez delivered a two-run single in the sixth and Rogelios Noris slugged a three-run homer in the seventh to spark West Virginia's comeback.