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Parraz becomes a true Legend

Completes first cycle in team history; Lexington loses in 14
July 27, 2007
Jordan Parraz hit for the cycle Thursday, but it wasn't enough as the Lexington Legends were beaten by the Lakewood BlueClaws, 6-5, in 14 innings.

Parraz took care of the hardest part first by stroking his second triple of the season in the second inning. He doubled in the fourth and belted a two-out three-run homer, his 13th, to tie the game, 5-5, in the eighth.

The 22-year-old right-fielder grounded out in the 11th but got another chance three innings later with his team trailing, 6-5. He ripped a leadoff single to left field for the first cycle of his professional career and the first in Legends' history.

"I wasn't even thinking about it," said Lexington manager Gregg Langben who couldn't remember seeing a cycle in his 17-year career. "I was worrying about the next hitter bunting him over to second. Nevertheless, it was a special moment."

Max Sapp followed with a sacrifice, but Koby Clemens flied out to center and Greg Buchanan grounded out to end the long night.

Parraz, the only player on the Legends (17-18) with more than one hit, went 4-for-6 with three RBIs and three runs scored. It was his third four-hit game of the season and raised his batting average to .277.

"He's making progress and the organization is happy with him," Langben said. "He has all the tools."

The BlueClaws (18-15) grabbed the lead in the 14th, when Welinson Baez tripled with one out and scored on Fidel Hernandez's sacrifice fly off Sergio Severino (3-5). Lakewood had built a 4-0 cushion in the first and scored again in the fifth to make it 5-2.

Baez and Adrian Cardenas finished with two hits apiece, helping the BlueClaws snap a five-game losing streak.

Reliever Zack Sterner (1-0) picked up the win after limiting Lexington to two hits in three scoreless innings. Starter Sergio Escalona gave up two runs on five hits in seven frames.

Zack Hample is a contributor to MLB.com.