A two-out, two-run single by Xavier Fernandez (actually pictured when he had a game-winning hit) capped a five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning and gave the Lexington Legends an exciting 8-7 win over the Charleston RiverDogs in front of 5,521 fans Sunday, May 15, at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. The Class A Legends improve their record to 15-21 in the South Atlantic League.

Charleston built a 7-1 lead after five innings. But Lexington's Amalani Fukofuka’s two-run single in the seventh cut the margin to four, and the score remained 7-3 until the bottom of the ninth.

Cody Jones of the Legends led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. D.J. Burt walked, and after another wild pitch, Gasparini drew a walk, loading the bases. Samir Duenez greeted reliever Andrew Schwaab with a two-run single to right field, and the Legends trailed by two, 7-5. Fukofuka grounded out to the pitcher as Gasparini held at third and Duenez moved to second. After Johnson struck out, Travis Maezes walked to load the bases again, and with Fernandez at the plate, a wild pitch allowed Gasparini to score as Duenez moved to third and Maezes to second. On a 3-2 pitch, Fernandez hit a fly ball to short right center field that dropped in for a hit, scoring Duenez with the tying run and Maezes with the winner. Julio Pinto (1-2) got the win in relief. Schwaab (3-1) was the losing pitcher. Each team won two games in the series. The Legends remain at home for a three-game series against the Hickory Crawdads, who are in first place in the South Atlantic League Northern Division. Game time Monday night is 7:05 p.m.

Photo by David Rearic/Lexington Legends