Friday, April 05, 2013

Legends Drop Season Opener to GreenJackets, 4-0

Lexington Held To 4 Hits, Batters Combine for 15 Ks


APR 5th, 2013-A less-than-auspicious beginning, to be sure. But one game certainly does not a season make. 

Playing in their season opener after Thursday's game was rained out, the Legends were shut down by Augusta starting RHP Martin Agosta and fared even worse against the combined relief efforts of RHPs Derek Law and Tyler Mizenko, with the trio combining to hold Lexington to 4 hits, striking out 15 and walking not a single batter in the contest. Agosta, the 2nd round pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2012, was making his Class A debut for the GreenJackets in tonight's game. 

The Augusta starter went 5 innings and allowed 4 hits, striking out 9 and walking none in shutting out Lexington batters, who would not get a hit the rest of the night after Agosta left the game. RHP Bryan Brickhouse, a 3rd round pick of the Royals in 2011, started the game for Kansas City's newest affiliate, lasting 4 innings and allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, walking one and striking out seven. Neither of the runs allowed by Brickhouse were earned, however, due in part to a throwing error by SS Raul Mondesi and a fielding error by CF Bubba Starling

Starling was 1-4 on the night but went down on strikes the other 3 at-bats. Mondesi also registered a hit but struck out twice, himself. The top three batters in the Legends lineup (SS Mondesi, 2B Humberto Arteaga, CF Starling) combined for 3 of Lexington's 4 hits on the night (3-12) and 7 of their 15 K. 

LF Terrance Gore had the other hit for Lexington (a double off of Agosta) and subsequently stole third but would remain stranded there. Gore's double would be the only extra-base hit for either team. 

RHP Ali Williams relieved Brickhouse, going three frames and allowing 2 runs (one earned) on three hits, walking one and sending one down on Ks. Righty Mark Peterson took the last inning and held Augusta hitless, striking out two. Brickhouse and Williams also combined to induce 7 groundouts against only 2 in the air. 

Legends 1B Mark Threlkeld was hit by a pitch in the early going, subsequently leaving the game and giving way to Nicholas Cuckovich. More details to come on Threlkeld's status. 

Lexington plays two against the GreenJackets tomorrow starting at 5 PM. Game Two is the makeup game from 4/4. Starters TBD.