Lexington Legends’ third baseman Emmanuel Rivera (pictured) had two hits in four at bats to claim the South Atlantic League batting title, but the Hagerstown Suns built an early lead and went on to an 11-6 win over the Legends Monday, Sept. 4 in the final game of the 2017 season.

A seventh-inning double gave Rivera a .310 average for the season, one point better than Greensboro’s James Nelson, who finished at .309 after going two-for-four in a 2-1 win over Hickory earlier in the day.

Rivera needed the second hit. Had he gone 1-for-4, Nelson would have won the title, .3088 to .3081. Nelson had 122 hits in 395 at bats. Rivera, who also led the league in hits, had 144 hits in 464 at bats.

Rivera, who is ranked No. 16 among the Kansas City Royals' prospects on MLB.com, becomes the second Legend in the team’s 17-year history to claim the batting title. J.D. Martinez, now with the Arizona Diamondbacks, won with a .362 average in 2010.

The Legends finished the season with an overall record of 62-75, 28-40 in the second half.

Photo by Mary Lay, Lexington Legends