Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Three-game series

When: Tuesday through Thurday (7:05 each night)

Where: McCormick Field (Asheville, N.C.)

Robert Bono

Legends RHP Ross Seaton is set to start Wednesday. (Staff photo/Mark Cornelison)

David Duncan

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Robert Bono (8-8, 3.41) vs. RH Alan DeRatt (2-3, 4.91); Wednesday, RH Ross Seaton (8-10, 3.31) vs. RH Carlos Luna (0-0, 7.56); Thursday, LH David Duncan (4-3, 4.24) vs. RH Juan Nicasio (8-3, 2.41).

Tourist to watch: Switch-hitting CF Delta Cleary Jr. (6-foot-3, 180 pounds, from Jonesboro, Ark.) entered the season as the 11th-best prospect in the Rockies system, according to Baseball America. Through Sunday, he is hitting .258 with seven homers and 43 RBI over 100 games. He has stolen 31 bases in 42 attempts and scored 50 runs. He had three hits in each game, Saturday and Sunday, at Bowling Green. Rated by Baseball America as “best athlete” in the Rockies system, Cleary is a cousin of NBA pro Shawn Marion. Cleary, a guard, averaged 13 points a game to help his high school to the Arkansas Class 6A state title. He also quarterbacked the football team. Cleary then led his junior-college baseball team to the Division II national championship. Selected by Colorado in the 37th round of the 2008 draft, out of Louisiana State-Eunice JC, Cleary broke in to pro ball last year with Casper of the Pioneer League. There, he hit .276 with three homers, nine RBI and four stolen bases in 27 games.

Michael Hacker

Legend to watch: LHP Michael Hacker (5-9, 175, from Folsom, Calif.) struck out two Saturday in a scoreless inning of relief against the Hickory Crawdads. That was his first appearance since July 16 and bodes well after a horrendous season up to that point. His numbers: 0-1, 2.69 ERA, 20 strikeouts, 15 walks. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 25th round of the 2008 draft, out of Cosumnes River (Calif.) Junior College, Hacker played for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League last year. Over 23 appearances, all in relief, Hacker went 1-3 with five saves and a 2.73 ERA. He worked 26 1/3 innings, striking out 27 and walking 17. He held opposing batters to a .187 average and did not allow an earned run in his first 17 games. He was especially tough on the road, with an ERA of 1.08.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

MVP Jordan Pacheco

Derek Norris, top prospect

Also of note: Former Lafayette High School and University of Kentucky standout Michael Bertram is the Eastern League Player of the Week. Bertram, a third baseman for the Double-A Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves, went 9-for-26 (.346) with two doubles, two triples and two homers. He drove in 11 runs, scored eight times, walked three times and finished with an .808 slugging percentage for six games. … No Legends were on the annual list of SAL all-stars revealed Monday. The Charleston RiverDogs led the way with three selections: RHP David Phelps, 3B Corban Joseph and Melky Mesa (utility OF). West Virginia’s Rudy Owens was named Most Outstanding Pitcher, going 10-1 with a 1.70 ERA over 19 games before being promoted to Lynchburg of the Carolina League. Hagerstown Suns catcher Derek Norris, batting .288 with 122 hits and 23 homers in 121 games, was tabbed Most Outstanding Major League Prospect. Asheville catcher Jordan Pacheco, batting .325 with 139 hits and 13 homers through 111 games, was named MVP. Selections came from a vote of SAL field managers, general managers, sportswriters and broadcasters. Lakewood’s Dusty Wathan was selected as manager, Greenville’s Bob Kipper as coach. Other players picked: Asheville’s Scott Robinson (OF); Hagerstown’s Stephen Lombardozzi (2B); Augusta’s Josh Mazzola (1B); Bowling Green’s Tim Beckham (SS); Delmarva’s Ronnie Welty (OF); Hickory’s Erik Morrison (utility IF), and Lakewood’s Anthony Gose (OF).

South Atlantic League baseball

UPDATED ROTATION

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Greenville Drive

What: Four-game series

When: Tuesday through Friday (7 o’clock each night)

Where: Fluor Field at the West End (Greenville, S.C.)

Probable pitcher (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (7-10, 3.89) vs. RH Mike Lee (3-4, 4.15); Wednesday, RH Jordan Lyles (6-9, 3.42) vs. LH Fabian Williamson (7-2, 2.13); Thursday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (6-4, 3.12) vs. RH Stolmy Pimentel (9-6, 3.14); Friday, TBA vs. RH Brock Huntzinger (7-8, 4.17).

Ryan Lavarnway

Drive to watch: C Ryan Lavarnway (6-foot-4, 225 pounds, from Woodland Hills, Calif.) leads the team in doubles (27), homers (14), RBI (56) and total bases (153), and is tied for the lead in hits (80). Hitting .278 over 74 games (.299 since the all-star break), he also is slugging .531, has scored 43 runs and hit four sacrifice flies. Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, out of Yale University, Lavarnway made his pro debut a year ago this week with the short-season A Lowell Spinners, for whom he hit .211 (15-for-71) with two homers, nine RBI and 10 runs over 22 games. At Yale, Lavarnway became the Ivy League career leader in homers, socking 33 over three seasons.

Jordan Lyles

Legend to watch: Wednesday starter Jordan Lyles (6-4, 185, from Hartsville, S.C.) gets another start in his home state coming off a sparkling effort Friday against the Charleston RiverDogs — six innings of three-hit, shutout ball in an 11-0 victory, with eight strikeouts to two walks. Lyles has set career bests across the board, including wins (6), ERA (3.42), games (20) and strikeouts (133). His 110 2/3 innings pitched are exactly double his 2008 total, and he has given up only 32 walks. Selected by the Houston Astros in the supplemental first round of the 2008 draft (38th overall), Lyles came into this season rated by Baseball America as the sixth-best prospect in the Houston syste, projected as the Astros’ 2012 No. 4 starter. Last year, in 13 starts with the Greeneville Astros and two starts for the Tri-City ValleyCats, Lyles was a combined 3-3 with a 4.23 ERA, 68 strikeouts and 17 walks.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Charleston RiverDogs

What: Four-game series

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 each night except Sunday, 5:05)

Where: Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, a.k.a. “The Joe” (Charleston, S.C.)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Jordan Lyles (5-9, 3.61) vs. RH Jairo Heredia (0-0, 2.25); Saturday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (5-4, 3.38) vs. LH Manny Banuelos (8-4, 2.60); Sunday, RH Ross Seaton (7-8, 2.82) vs. LH Trent Lare (3-2, 1.07 for Staten Island, New York-Penn League); Monday, LH David Duncan (1-2, 3.60) vs. RH Cory Arbiso (3-7, 3.18).

RiverDog to watch: OF Melky Mesa (6-foot-1, 185 pounds, from Haina, Dominican Republic) ranks second in the league with 20 homers and is fourth with 65 RBI. In addition to homers and RBI, he leads the RiverDogs in runs (63), hits (90), at-bats (370), doubles (22), total bases (184) and walks (41). Hitting .243 with 10 stolen bases over 99 games, he also is among the SAL’s top 10 in triples (6) and slugging percentage (.497). However, he’s also second in the league with 123 strikeouts. Signed by the New York Yankees six years ago, when he was 16, Mesa spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League and two more in the Gulf Coast League. Last year, with Staten Island, he hit .221 with seven homers and 23 RBI over 46 games. Fourteen of his 27 hits went for extra bases.

Brandon Wikoff

Legend to watch: SS Brandon Wikoff (5-8, 170, from Peoria, Ill.) is the first 2009 draft pick to join the Legends. Up from Tri-City of the New York-Penn League, he swaps roster spots with Jorge DeLeon. Wikoff has hits in his first three games with the Legends, going 5-for-11 (.455) and scoring twice. In 28 games with Tri-City, he hit .287 with two RBI, 12 runs and a pair of stolen bases. Selected by the Houston Astros in the fifth round of last month’s draft, out of the University of Illinois, finished his days with the Illini on a career-best 18-game hitting streak, including nine multi-hit games. An all-Big Ten pick, he had 23 multi-hit games in the season, started all 56 games and reached base in every game except one. He played third base as a freshman (2007), before moving to short. He led his high school team to the Illinois State Tournament in 2005 and 2006.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Koby Clemens

Also of note: Mike Tauser’s “Farmstros Five” for the week of July 22-28 include former Legend Koby Clemens, now with the Lancaster JetHawks. The weekly list of top performers in the Astros system (click here: http://farmstros.blogspot.com/) also includes Gulf Coast League Astros IF Luis Bryan, Tri-City ValleyCats RHP Max Fearnow and Round Rock Express RHP Yorman Bazardo. Top performer is plural this week, designated as the Dominican Summer League Astros pitching trio.

Ebert Rosario

“I expect to have fun,” the Lexington Legends third baseman said. “I expect to do a good representation of my team — do a good job. I’m not looking to do more than I can.

“I just want to have fun, represent my team and organization, and try to hit 3-for-3, 4-for-4, something like that.”

Rosario laughed at his hopes for a perfect game at the plate, but don’t put it past him.

He is among three Legends on the Southern Division roster for Tuesday’s game at Charleston, W.Va., home of the West Virginia Power. He will be joined by a pair of 20-year-old right-handed pitchers, Robert Bono and Ross Seaton.

Pitching coach Charley Taylor was named as an honorary coach. Taylor, recovering from cancer

Charley Taylor

Ross Seaton

surgery, visited the Legends for a game earlier this month, but he will be unable to attend the all-star game.

Travis Driskill

Robert Bono

there and throws 98, 99 mph, where he can just throw it right down the middle and up in the zone and get guys to swing and miss. We’ve got a bunch of guys that throw anywhere from 88 to 92, and you’ve got to keep that down. If you keep that down, you’re giving yourself a shot.”

A shot to win.

For more on the Legends all-stars, check out Tuesday’s Herald-Leader or http://www.kentucky.com/271/story/839554.html#none.

Legends at the break

Sunday’s 4-2 victory at Greenville enabled the Legends to finish the first-half race above the .500 mark, 36-34, and edge Rome for third place. Lexington finished four games behind first-place Greenville, three behind Charlestson.

Some first-half highs and lows:

Legends                                                                Opponents

Runs: 15, at Augusta; 0, eight times      15, by Greenville; 0, five times
Hits: 18, at Asheville; 1, two times        17, by Greenville; 3, eight times
Errors: 5, vs. Charleston; 0, multiple       5, by Bowling Green; 0 multi.
LOB: 12, at Asheville; 1, vs. Augusta      12, twice; 2, three times
Home runs: 4, twice; 0 multiple             3, by Greenville    0, multiple

More numbers:
* Lexington’s longest winning streak was five games, its longest losing streak six games (twice). 
* The Legends hit 46 home runs and gave up 28.
* Legends hitters were 137-for-530 (.258) with runners in scoring position.
* Lexington’s longest games lasted 3:46 (14 innings) and 3:03 (nine innings).  
* Lexington’s quickest games lasted 1:40 (seven innings) and 1:51 (nine innings). 
* The Legends defense turned 57 double plays, while the offense hit into 59.
* The Legends were 54-for-88 in stolen-base attempts; the opposition was 36-for-58.
* Legends relief pitchers inherited 101 runners, of which 34 scored.

The Legends open second-half play at home Thursday, taking on Bowling Green at 7:05 p.m.

Lexington Legends pitchers Robert Bono and Ross Seaton, along with third baseman Ebert Rosario, were named Monday to the South Atlantic League’s Southern Division all-star team.

Charley Taylor

Pitching coach Charley Taylor, who has been unable to join the team this season due to bladder cancer and subsequent surgery to remove his bladder and prostate, was honored by being named to the coaching staff.

Ebert Rosario

The 50th SAL All-Star game is schedule for 7:35 p.m., June 23 at Appalachian Power Park, home of the West Virginia Power in Charleston.

Rosario will start at third base. Through Sunday, he is batting .304 with four homers and 20 RBI.

Robert Bono

Ross Seaton

Bono is 5-2 and third in the league with a 1.93 ERA. Fellow right-hander Seaton is 6-5, 10th in the league with a 2.49 ERA and the only pitcher in the league to have thrown a nine-inning complete game shutout. (Two other pitchers threw seven-inning complete game shutouts.)

Former Eastern Kentucky University pitcher Christian Friedrich was selected for his work with the Asheville Tourists. However, Friedrich was promoted from Asheville to the High-A Modesto Nuts on May 20.

In eight starts for the Tourists, the left-hander was 3-3, ninth in the league with a 2.18 ERA and second in the league with 66 strikeouts. The Colorado Rockies selected Friedrich in the first round of the 2008 draft. In two starts for Modesto, he has no decisions and a 2.77 ERA.

Christian Friedrich

Greenville leads the Southern Division with five all-stars, including starting pitcher Casey Kelly and first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Greenville’s Kevin Boles will manage the squad, assisted by Charleston (S.C.) manager Torre Tyson and pitching coach Jeff Ware, Greenville hitting coach Billy McMillon and pitching coach Bob Kipper, and Taylor.

Asheville, Charleston and Savannah each have four players on the Southern roster, with two starters each: catcher Jordan Pacheco and center fielder Scott Robinson for the Tourists; right fielder Melky Mesa and designated hitter Daniel Brewer for the RiverDogs; and second baseman Joshua Satin and left fielder Sean Ratliff from the Sand Gnats.

Bowling Green and Augusta have two all-stars each. Bowling Green’s Tim Beckham will start at shortstop.

The Hickory Crawdads and Lakewood BlueClaws lead the Northern stars with six players each. Greensboro has four players and host West Virginia has three.

Lakewood’s Dusty Wathan will manager the Northern team, assisted by BlueClaws coach Tim Gradoville. Also assisting will be managers Gary Green of West Virginia and Ernie Young of Kannapolis, plus West Virginia pitching coach Jeff Johnson.

The 27-player rosters were selected by a vote of league managers and coaching staffs, media and front-office executives. 

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Charleston RiverDogs

What: Four-game series

When: Wednesday through Saturday (7:05 each night)

Where: Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park, Charleston, S.C.

Probable pitcher (Legends listed first: Wednesday, LH Brad Didalewicz (2-0, 0.00) vs. RH David Phelps (3-1, 3.07); Thursday, RH Ross Seaton (3-1, 1.59) vs. RH Andrew Brackman (0-4, 4.01); Friday, RH Robert Bono (4-1, 2.08) vs. LH Manny Banuelos (1-1, 3.38); Saturday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (2-3, 2.50) vs. RH Brett Marshall (1-3, 5.35).

Brandon Braboy

RiverDog to watch: RHP Brandon Braboy (6-foot, 195 pounds, from Kevil, Ky.) is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA over 11 relief outings. In 22 innings, he has struck out 20 and walked three, holding opponents to a .212 average. Out of Heath High School and the University of Indianapolis, Braboy was selected by the Yankees in the 18th round of last June’s draft. After going 8-3 with a 3.61 for his college team, Braboy was 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA for the Yankees’ rookie team at Staten Island.

Marques Williams

Legend to watch: OF Marques Williams (6-0, 185, from Los Angeles) joined the Legends last weekend, promoted from extended spring training. After going hitless in his first two games, Williams doubled. He wound up scoring the decisive run in a 2-1 victory over Savannah, swiping home on a delayed double steal. Williams, 23, was selected by the Astros in the 43rd round of the June 2007 draft, out of Compton Community College. He played seven games for Greeneville in 2007 and 46 for Tri-City last year, batting a combined .212 with 11 RBI and five stolen bases.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

The Lexington Legends are back in town for eight games, tied for first place in the South Atlantic League’s Southern Division and itching to snap a four-game losing streak.

Things are off to a fast start on a Monday night at Applebee’s Park.

The Charleston RiverDogs package three hits and a walk in the first inning. Abraham Almonte’s bases-loaded single to center gives the New York Yankees affiliate a 2-0 lead.

Jay Austin

Federico Hernandez

The Legends come back with two in the bottom of the inning.

Jay Austin leads off with a double to the right-field corner. One out later, Federico Hernandez rips an Andrew Brackman fastball for a home run off of the awning over the right-field deck.

Legends right-hander Robert Bono, who wasn’t missing his spots by much in the first inning, settles down to blank the RiverDogs in the second and third, although yielding three more singles.

Robert Bono

The first of those hits, by Mike Lyon, nearly turned into a spectacular out. Shortstop Jorge De Leon made a diving stop of a hard-hit ball up the middle, but was unable to make a clean glove-to-hand transfer.

Jorge De Leon

DeLeon and DH Michael Diaz are making their Legends debuts Monday. A third, second baseman Andy Simunic, is making his home debut.

More on the newcomers coming up. The Legends have just been retired, so the totals after three innings:

Charleston: 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 error. Lexington: 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors.

* The arrival of new players reflects the team health, rather than any player promotions.

Simunic was called from extended spring training when 2B Albert Cartwright suffered a broken forearm.

De Leon is filling in at short for Ricardo Bonfante, who has been placed on the DL due to a dislocated left shoulder.

Kyle Miller

Diaz trades places with infielder Kyle Miller, who has been sent to extended spring training.

* Meanwhile, both teams put up zeroes in the fourth inning.

Charleston shortstop Carmen Angelini, called out on strikes to end the top half of the inning, was ejected for arguing the call.

Michael Diaz

De Leon, a 6-foot, 168-pound 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic, signed with the Houston Astros in 2006. He spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League and spent last season with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League. His three-year totals include a .216 average, six homers, 50 RBI and nine stolen bases.

Diaz (5-10, 180, age 22), from Monroe, Conn., was selected by the Astros in the 30th round of last June’s draft, out of Southern Connecticut State University. He broke in with Tri-City of the New York-Penn League last summer, hitting .282 with five homers and 22 RBI over 48 games. He also stole six bases.

Andy Simunic

Ashton Mowdy

Simunic (6-0, 175, 23), from Collierville, Tenn., was taken in the 17th round of last year’s draft, out of the University of Tennessee. He hit .234 for Tri-City last summer, with 14 RBI and four stolen bases over 53 games. He was the ValleyCats’ Defensive Player of the Month for July.

* Back to the game … Still 2-2 through five innings.

To open the sixth, the Legends have turned to right-hander Ashton Mowdy. Bono went five innings, giving up two runs, eight hits and a walk, while striking out three.

Through five innings: Charleston 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 error; Lexington 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors.

Andrew Brackman

* We’re through six innings now, and the Legends are hoping 6-foot-8, 240-pound right-hander Andrew Brackman is about at the end of his night’s work. Still tied, 2-2.

Patrick Urckfitz

* Still 2-2 through seven. The Legends changed pitchers with two out and one on (via a walk) in the top of the seventh. Lefty Patrick Urckfitz took over from righty Ashton Mowdy, striking out Taylor Grote.

* Still 2-2, although the Legends threatened in the eighth. With runners on second and third, Brandon Barnes took a called third strike that he clearly thought was outside.

Going to the ninth, the Legends bring in right-hander Jose Trinidad.

Jose Trinidad

* Trinidad retires the RiverDogs in order, getting a foul out to his catcher, Federico Hernandez, then striking out Mike Lyon and Ray Kruml.

In the bottom of the ninth, Charleston goes to right-hander Dan Kapala. Starter Andrew Brackman finishes with a season-long stint of eight innings, giving up two runs, seven hits and a walk, striking out nine.

Kapala gets Russell Dixon on a liner to center. Phil Disher picks up a golden sombrero with his fourth strikeout. Andy Simunic flies to right. So we go to extra innings, tied 2-2.

10th inning

Russell Dixon

Addison Maruszak leads off the top of the 10th with a base hit to right. Dan Brewer bunts him to second. Taylor Grote singles through the right side. Maruszak, running all the way, gets cut down at the plate as the throw from right fielder Russell Dixon arrives on the fly. Maruszak tries to bowl over catcher Federico Hernandez, who holds on to the ball. Grote takes second on the throw. Legends Manager Tom Lawless calls on his closer, Daniel Meszaros, to face Abraham Almonte. A called third strike over the outside corner makes Almonte the latest in a long list of batters to grumble to umpire Joey Amaral.

In the bottom of the 10th, Ebert Rosario and Jorge De Leon ground out. Jay Austin coaxes a full-count walk, but Michael Diaz strikes out.

11th inning

Brandon Barnes

Charleston goes down in order as Corban Joseph strikes out and Neall French flies to right, where Russell Dixon breaks in late but makes a diving catch. Then, left-fielder Brandon Barnes saves the day. Mitch Abeita’s two-out fly ball rockets deep to the power alley in left-center, but Barnes races back to make an outstanding catch at the wall, just below the “K” board.

Federico Hernandez leads off the Legends’ 11th with a single to left. Brandon Barnes pops a foul bunt to catcher Mitch Abeita. Russell Dixon’s potential double-play grounder is bobbled by second baseman Corban Joseph. That gives Hernandez enough time to reach second, although Dixon is nabbed at first. Phil Disher, 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, works the count full but goes down swinging. On to the 12th, tied 2-2.

12th inning

Brian Wabick

Right-hander Brian Wabick becomes the sixth Legends pitcher of the game. Mike Lyon tries to bunt for a hit, but Wabick throws him out. Ray Kruml and Addison Maruszak go down swinging.

Right-hander Cory Arbiso comes in to pitch for Charleston. Andy Simunic and Ebert Rosario ground out. Jorge De Leon strikes out. Through 12 innings: Lexington 2, Charleston 2.

13th inning

Dan Brewer leads off with a single through the left side of the infield. Taylor Grote strikes out. With the hit-and-run on, Abraham Almonte swings and misses — and Brewer is thrown out at second base by Federico Hernandez. Almonte then takes a called third strike.

In the bottom of the 13th, Jay Austin bounces out to pitcher Cory Arbiso. Michael Diaz chops one just over the pitcher to reach on an infield single. Federico Hernandez singles to the left-field corner, moving Diaz to third. Hernandez takes second as left-fielder Taylor Grote bobbles the ball for his first error of the season. Charleston brings its infield in. Brandon Barnes grounds to third baseman Mike Lyon, whose throw to catcher Mitch Abeita is in plenty of time. Diaz comes in with a full body block, but Abeita holds on. Hernandez holds at second. Russell Dixon taps out to Arbiso. On to the 14th!

14th inning

Corban Joseph draws a leadoff walk. Neall French bunts him to second. But Mitch Abeita grounds to third and Mike Lyon strikes out.

Kody Hinze pinch-hits for Phil Disher, who finishes 0-for-5, all strikeouts. Hinze swings and … misses for a sixth strikeout in the slot. Andy Simunic singles sharply to left. He takes second on Ebert Rosario’s bouncer to third. Jorge De Leon singles to right. Simunic never slows and right-fielder Ray Kruml fails to make a clean pick up. Simunic scores standing up, with no play. Final: Legends 3, RiverDogs 2.

Charleston    200 000 000 000 00 — 2  12  2
Lexington     200 000 000 000 01 – 3  12  0
W: Wabick (1-0); L: Arbiso (1-3). HR: Lex, Hernandez 4. LOB: Chas.10, Lex. 10.
Leading hitters:  Hernandez, De Leon (Lexington), 3 hits each; Brewer, Grote, Almonte, Abeita (Charleston), and Simunic, Rosario (Lexington), 2 hits each. Att: 3,076.

Pitching summary

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Legends vs. Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs 

What: Four-game series

When: Monday through Thursday (7:05 each night)

Where:  Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call   (859) 422-7867        

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Robert Bono (4-1, 1.61) vs. RH Andrew Brackman (0-4, 4.55); Tuesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (2-2, 1.86) vs. RH Brett Marshall (0-3, 6.66); Wednesday, RH Jordan Lyles (1-3, 4.11) vs. RH Hector Noesi (0-0, 0.00); Thursday, RH Ross Seaton (4-2, 1.51) vs. TBA.

RiverDog to watch: Pat Venditte (6-foot-1, 180 pounds, from Omaha, Neb.) is second in SAL saves, behind only Legends right-hander Daniel Meszaros. What

Pat Venditte

makes Venditte unusual is that he pitches with both hands, and well. Over his 12 appearances, Venditte is 2-1 with seven saves and a 0.61 ERA. He has allowed three runs, one earned, while holding opponents to a .204 batting average over 14 2/3 innings. The Yankees selected Venditte in the 20th round of last June’s draft, out of Creighton University. With Staten Island of the New York-Penn League last summer, Venditte was 1-0, 23-for-23 in save situations, with a 0.83 ERA and was named the league’s Reliever of the Year.

Legend to watch: 2B Andy Simunic (6-0, 175, from Collierville, Tenn.) joined the Legends last week, called up from extended spring

Andy Simunic

training after Albert Cartwright suffered a broken forearm. In his first five games, Simunic is 5-for-18 (.278), with a double, walk and stolen bases. He comes home with a four-game hitting streak. Selected by the Astros in the 17th round of last June’s draft, out of Tennessee, Simunic hit .234 and drove in 14 runs over 53 games with Tri-City last summer. He was the team’s Defensive Player of the Month in July.

Also of note: What happens when an ambidextrous pitcher encounters a switch-hitter? Rules state that the pitcher must declare which arm he will use to throw. Each side is then allowed to switch once. . . . The Legends expect to have a roster addition Monday, as SS Ricardo Bonfante suffered a dislocated left shoulder when he attempted a head-first slide Friday at Rome.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300