Legends, RiverDogs split doubleheader

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) Behind the pitching of Ross Seaton, the Lexington Legends defeated Charleston 3-1 in the first game of a doubleheader in Charleston Monday night. The RiverDogs bounced back to win the second game 6-5.

In the first game, Seaton pitched six shutout innings, giving up five hits while striking out four. Seaton, who did not walk a batter, evened his record at 8-8 and lowered his ERA to 2.67. Manny Banuelos, 8-5, was the losing pitcher.

Doubles by Albert Cartwright and Brian Pellegrini brought home the game's first run in the top of the first inning. The Legends added another in the third. Brandon Wikoff led off with a walk and scored on a two-out double by Chris Jackson.

Lexington scored its final run in the fourth inning when Jay Austin reached on a fielder's choice, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Albert Cartwright.

Charleston loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh inning against reliever Patrick Urckfitz on two walks and a single, but the Legends turned a double play as a run scored to cut the lead to 3-1. Urckfitz then retired Tommy Baldridge on a fly ball to center field to end the game. Urckfitz picked up his eleventh save of the year.

The Legends took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. Austin and Cartwright singled to start the game, and Austin came around to score when right fielder Taylor Grote overthrew third base. Cartwright later scored on Pellegrini's infield out.

In the fourth, Pellegrini singled and went to second on an infield out. A wild pickoff attempt by pitcher Cory Arbiso allowed Pellegrini to take third, and he scored when center fielder Melky Mesa overthrew third.

But the RiverDogs sent nine men to the plate in the bottom of the fourth and scored five times to take a 6-3 lead. They had seven hits in the inning, including five consecutive hits with two out. Corban Joseph's two-run single capped the inning.

Lexington came back with single runs in the sixth and seventh inning, but came up a run short as Jonathan Ortiz earned his seventh save. Cory Arbiso (4-7) got the win. Lexington starter David Duncan was the losing pitcher. The Legends go to Greenville, S.C. to open a series against the Drive Tuesday. Game time is 7 p.m.