Trailing Early, Legends Could Not Catch Crawdads in Game Two Loss

L.P. FRANS STADIUM (Hickory, NC) - The Lexington Legends fell in game two, 18-6 to the Hickory Crawdads. Hickory's bats were hot, recording 14 hits, nine of which were for extra bases. The Legends overall record drops to 8-4 and the Crawdads' improve to 3-8. Nolan Watson (0-1) was given the loss for Lexington and Thompson (3-1) was awarded the win for Hickory.
Hickory began scoring with the very first batter they sent to the plate. In the bottom of the first inning, Eric Jenkins hit a lead-off home run, putting the Crawdads up 1-0. Yohel Pozo then singled to left field, and scored off a double by Melvin Novoa. Pedro Gonzalez singled to right field, and advanced to second on a catching error by Seuly Matias. With runners at second and third, Tyler Ratliff singled to right field, scoring the two runners, and Hickory led 4-0 after the first.
Seuly Matias answered in the top of the second inning with a lead off home run of his own, to put the Legends on the board, 2-1. Matias now has five home runs this season.
Hickory then went on a scoring spree in the third inning. Pozo singled to center field, then moved to third on a double by Novoa. With runners at second and third, Pedro Gonzalez smacked a two-run triple to centerfield, putting Hickory up 6-1. Sam Huff then doubled Gonzalez home, adding another run for the Crawdads. Ratliff and Kole Enright then loaded the bases after they were both hit by pitches by Watson. He then walked Yonny Hernandez, scoring another run for Hickory. Down 8-1, the Legends made a call to bullpen and Julio Pinto took the mound in relief. Eric Jenkins grounded into a force out at the plate, and the Legends were able to prevent another run, but the bases were still loaded. Miguel Aparicio then lined a bases clearing triple to right field, plating three more runs extending Hickory's lead, 11-1. Pinto was able to get Pozo to fly out in his second at-bat in the inning for the second out. With two outs, Novoa hit a home run to right field, adding two more runs to Hickory's lead. Pinto was then able to strikeout Huff for the third out of the inning, but the Legends trailed 13-1 after the third.
In the top of the fifth, Dennicher Carrasco homered to right field. Carrasco's home run was his first hit of 2018, but the Legends still trailed 13-2.
The Legends tried to make up ground in the sixth. Travis Jones reached base on a throwing error on the third baseman, Ratliff. Vance Vizcaino then flew out to the shortstop, but Nick Pratto joined Jones on the base path with a single. Matias grounded into a force out at third base, but moved Pratto to second with Matias on first. MJ Melendez singled into left field, scoring Pratto and moving Matias to second. The Legends still trailed, 13-3. Carrasco then stepped up and hit his second home run of the night to right field, scoring three runs, further cutting into Hickory's lead, 13-6. Oliver Nunez then tripled, but Marten Gasparini struck out, ending the inning.
The Crawdads continued to score in the sixth. Novoa reached on a lead-off walk then moved to second on a single by Huff. Ratliff grounded out to third beaseman, moving Novoa to third and Huff to second. Enright was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hernandez then walked in Novoa, putting the Crawdads up 14-6. A bases clearing triple to center field by Jenkins further extended that lead, 17-6.
The final run of the ballgame came in the seventh. A lead off home run by Pozo to right field was the final run to cross the plate, putting Hickory on top, 18-6.
The same two teams meet for the series finale tomorrow at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory, North Carolina at 10:30 a.m. The Legends will send LHP Garrett Davila (0-0, 3.12 ERA) and the Crawdads are TBA.
The Legends return to Whitaker Bank Ballpark on Thursday, April 19 at 7:05 p.m. to face the Hagerstown Suns. 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.