Jordan Lyles
For those who like noting “firsts,” Thursday was a big night for Bluegrass-style baseball.
Opening Night in the South Atlantic League saw not one but, for the first time ever, two Kentucky teams pick up wins.
The Lexington Legends opened their ninth season with a 5-4 victory at West Virginia. The first-year Bowling Green Hot Rods debuted with an 8-3 triumph at Hickory.
Some season firsts for the Legends:
Strikeout victim – West Virginia leadoff batter Robbie Grossman, looking at a Jordan Lyles pitch.
Opponent beaned – West Virginia’s Bobby Spain, by Lyles, leading off the second inning.
Albert Cartwright
Hit by a pitch – Brandon Barnes, by Duke Welker, leading off the third inning.
Hit – Albert Cartwright, a bunt single with one out in the third inning.
Run scored – Barnes, coming from third base on a Welker wild pitch with two outs in the third inning.
RBI – Ricardo Bonfante, with a two-out single in the third to score Cartwright.
Walk – Phil Disher, by Welker, with one out in the fourth.
Ebert Rosario
Extra-base hit – Ebert Rosario, a two-run triple to right with two outs in the fourth.
Summoned from the bullpen – Henry Villar, taking over in the sixth inning.
Three-hit game – Rosario, 3-for-4 with a single, double, triple and strikeout.
Winning decision – Lyles: 5 innings, 2 runs, 5 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, 2 hit batters, 1 wild pitch.
Save – Daniel Meszaros: one inning, one strikeout.
Holds – Villar and Patrick Urckfitz.
Shortstop Tim Beckham led the way in Bowling Green’s win, going 2-for-5. He hit a solo home run and drove in three runs. Chris Andujar got the win with four innings of one-run, one-hit relief, striking out six.
