Puckett untouchable for Legends

Bouncing back from a rough start his last time out, A.J. Puckett notched his first professional win in style on Sunday.

The Royals No. 17 prospect tossed five hitless innings, striking out four and walking one, over five innings as Class A Lexington beat Hagerstown, 8-2, to complete a doubleheader sweep at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.

"I'm taking it one start at a time," Puckett said. "I took some positives from the last start even though I got roughed up. I tried to take those positives and moved forward into this outing. There are some things I could work on from today, too. I didn't throw my changeup too well, so that's something to look forward to getting better at the future."

Puckett (1-2) issued a two-out walk in the opening inning to Kelvin Gutierrez, then cruised, retiring seven in a row before Ian Sagdal reached on an error by second baseman D.J. Burt. 

The 2016 second-round pick came through on his promise to pick up his second baseman. After getting Gutierrez to ground into a double play, Rhett Wiseman hit a sharp grounder to Burt, who made a nifty play to get the Legends back to the dugout.

"I told D.J. after that not to worry and that I would get him another one," Puckett said. "It was one of those weird spins and it took a tough hop on him. It was one of those things where you can't worry about it, and he made a great play later in the inning after the double play."

Puckett capped his day with five straight groundouts, culminating in a six-pitch fifth inning. 

"I kind of want them to hit the ball," the 21-year-old right-hander said. "That makes for quicker outs and innings. That gets the defense activated, and when they're moving around to make plays it gets the blood moving for their at-bats. It'd be nice to strike everyone out, but in the meantime it's nice to get some groundouts and let the guys behind me make some plays."

Puckett made two starts in the Rookie-level Arizona League before joining Lexington on July 1. In nine South Atlantic League starts, he's got a 3.09 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 43 2/3 innings.

"I'm fortunate enough to be with a great group of guys with a fantastic staff," the Pepperdine product said. "The season may not have gone the way we wanted it to go, but we're still trying to go out there and get a win every day. Just going out there and being with the guys is why I love this game."

Daniel Concepcion took over for Puckett in the sixth and allowed two runs on three hits over the final two innings. 

 Royals No. 7 prospect Chase Vallot drovein two runs and Roman Collins hit a solo homer for the Legends.

Hagerstown starter Grant Borne (3-2) surrendered seven runs on nine hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.  

Lexington took the opener, 1-0, as Nolan Watson (3-10) allowed three hits and two walks while fanning four over five innings.