Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

South Atlantic League baseball

Lexington Legends
at Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday and Friday nights, 6:05 Saturday, 2:05 Sunday)

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

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Colorado Rockies (Tourists)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Miguel Almonte (3-4, 3.83) vs. RH Ben Hughes (5-5, 6.00); Friday, RH Christian Binford (4-2, 2.67) vs. RH Shane Broyles (1-8, 6.67); Saturday, LH Daniel Stumpf (4-4, 2.78) vs. RH Ryan Arrowood (3-0, 3.43); Sunday, LH Crawford Simmons (0-1, 9.00) vs. RH Matt Carasiti (1-2, 8.16).

Miguel Almonte

Legend to watch: Thursday starter Miguel Almonte (6-foot-2, 180 pounds, age 20, from Santiago, Dominican Republic) has made 11 starts, going 3-4 with a 3.83 ERA over 56 1/3 innings. Almonte has struck out 53, walked 21, holding opponents to a .246 batting average. His last five starts have resulted in two wins and three no-decisions. In two June starts, he is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA. Signed for $25,000 on Nov. 20, 2010, he made five appearances (one start) with the Dominican Summer League Royals in 2011, with no decisions and a 5.40 ERA. Last year, with the DSL Royals and Arizona League’s Surprise Royals, Almonte was a combined 8-2. He earned DSL all-star honors and was the Dominican Royals’ Pitcher of the Year, and even joined Burlington for the Appalachian League playoffs. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated Almonte as the 10th-best prospect in the Royals system.

Derek Jones

Tourist to watch: SAL all-star OF Derek Jones (6-0, 210, 23, bats and throws left, from Snohomish, Wash.) is hitting .254 with eight homers, 30 RBI and 26 runs over 55 games. After batting .325 in 20 games in April, he has slumped of late. Still, he’s hitting .309 with runners on base. He has 10 stolen bases and 93 total bases, and 15 of his 52 hits have been doubles. A 2012 eighth-round draft pick out of Washington State, Jones broke into pro ball last year with Tri-City of the Northwest League, hitting .191 with a homer, 22 RBI and 29 runs over 68 games.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Asheville Tourists
at Lexington Legends

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 Monday and Tuesday nights, 12:05 Wednesday afternoon)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Colorado Rockies (Tourists)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Miguel Almonte (2-4, 3.11) vs. RH Matt Carasiti (0-0, 9.00); Tuesday, RH Christian Binford (3-2, 3.18) vs. RH T.J. Oakes (4-3, 5.54); Wednesday, LH Colin Rodgers (3-1, 2.25) vs. RH Ben Hughes (3-4, 7.34).

Tom Murphy

Tourist to watch: C Tom Murphy (6-foot-1, 220 pounds, age 22, bats and throws right, from West Monroe, N.Y.) began this season as the No. 14 prospect in the Rockies system, according to Baseball America. Signed for $454,000 as a third-round pick in 2012, out of Buffalo, he broke into pro ball last season with the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League. There, he hit .288 with six homers, 38 RBI and 26 runs over 55 games. This season, he’s batting .348 with eight homers, 31 RBI and 24 runs over 26 games. After batting .408 in May, he has dropped to .275 thus far in May. He has 12 RBI in his last 10 games.

Nick Cuckovich

Legend to watch: Utility IF/OF Nick Cuckovich (6-1, 199, 21, bats and throws right, from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) has played first, second and third base this season. His last seven games, though, have found him in right field. Although struggling with a .180 average, his bat has come around the last five games (5-for-15, .333, 3 RBI, 3 R). Selected in the 17th round of the 2011 draft, he earned an associate degree from Riverside (Calif.) Community College and had signed a letter of intent with Hawaii before opting to turn pro. He batted .288 over two seasons and 103 pro games with the Arizona League Royals and Idaho Falls Chukars. He led the Arizona League in stolen bases in 2011 with 24, while finishing ninth in on-base percentage (.418) and tied for ninth in walks. Last year, he was fourth in the Pioneer League with eight triples. Cuckovich is a 2009 graduate of Lambrick Park Secondary School in Saanich, British Columbia.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Lexington Legends
at Asheville Tourists

What: Three-game series

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

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

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Colorado Rockies (Tourists)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Bryan Brickhouse (0-3, 3.00) vs. LH Jonathan Vargas (0-0, 5.40); Wednesday, RH Miguel Almonte (0-2, 4.85) vs. RH Shane Broyles (0-2, 7.16); Thursday, RH Christian Binford (1-1, 4.30) vs. RH Eddie Butler (1-0, 2.53).

Raul Mondesi

Legend to watch: SS Raul Mondesi (6-foot-1, 166 pounds, age 17, from Los Angeles, switch-hitter, throws right) is riding a seven-game hitting streak, going 10-for-28 with 11 RBI and three runs. Overall, he is batting .279 with 15 RBI, six runs, three stolen bases, a .351 on-base percentage and slugging .426. Full name is Raul Adalberto Mondesi. He is the son of former Major Leaguer Raul Mondesi, and the brother of Tampa Bay Rays minor-leaguer Raul Mondesi Jr. Raul Sr. was National League Rookie of the Year in 1994, the start of a 13-year big-league career. A free agent out of the Dominican Republic, Lexington’s Raul got a $2 million signing bonus at 16. Last year, as the youngest player in the Pioneer League, he batted .290 with three homers, 30 RBI, 35 runs and 11 stolen bases over 50 games with the Idaho Falls Chukars. Rated by Baseball America as the fifth-best prospect in the Royals’ system.

Francisco Sosa

Tourist to watch: LF/CF Francisco Sosa (6-4, 180, 23, from Esperanza, Dominican Republic, bats and throws right) also carries a seven-game hitting streak — 11-for-26 with seven RBI and eight runs. Overall, he is hitting .323 with three homers, 13 RBI, 17 runs, six steals, a .416 on-base percentage and .523 slugging. Signed by the Rockies as a non-drafted free agent in August 2007, Sosa spent 2008-10 with the Dominican Summer League Rockies, also getting five games in 2010 with the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League. He played all of 2011 at Casper, then joined the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League last year. He earned all-star honors with Tri-City, batting .275 with four homers, 36 RBI, 35 runs and 21 stolen bases over 68 games.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Five-game series

When: Friday through Tuesday (7:05 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday; 1:35 Sunday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Colorado Rockies

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Carlos Quevedo (4-2, 3.88) vs. RH Alex Gillingham (3-5, 4.31); Saturday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (9-1, 2.18) vs. RH Chris Jensen (7-2, 4.54); Sunday, LH Luis Cruz (5-5, 3.71) vs. RH Daniel Winkler (8-5, 4.75); Monday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (1-3, 5.06) vs. RH Ben Alsup (8-3, 4.58); Tuesday, RH Jonas Dufek (5-1, 4.72) vs. RH Vianney Mayo (2-3, 5.29).

Jose Rivera

Tourist to watch: 2B Jose Rivera (5-foot-10, 170 pounds, bats/throws right, age 22, from Bayamon, Puerto Rico) comes into the series batting .305 with 22 RBI and 19 runs, with 36 hits in 36 games. That includes 10 doubles and a triple. Over his last 10 games, Rivera is 13-for-36 (.361) with a .928 OPS. He’s batting .432 versus left-handed pitchers and .247 against righties. Selected by the Rockies in the 23rd round of the 2009 draft, out of Universidad Interamericana, Rivera split the 2009 season between the Domincan Summer League Rockies and the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League, hitting a combined .188 with four RBI over 36 games. In 2010, playing 47 games for Casper, he hit .200 with 10 RBI. Last year, also with Casper, he improved to .228, hit his first homer as a pro, and drove in nine runs over 39 games.

Chan Jong Moon

Legend to watch: SS Chan Jong Moon (6-foot, 171 pounds, bats both, throws right, age 21, from Seoul, South Korea) is off to a solid start in the second half. In seven games since the all-star break, Moon is 8-for-26 (.308). Overall, for 31 games, he is batting .283 with two homers, 20 RBI and 17 runs, with a .381 on-base percentage. The first player in Legends history from Korea, Moon is batting .324 versus left-handed pitchers and .258 against righties. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent Aug. 9, 2009, he made his pro debut in 2010 with the Gulf Coast League Astros. Over 33 games, he batted .215 with six RBI and 15 runs. Last year, in 43 games with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, Moon batted .207 with a homer, 12 RBI and 19 runs.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 1:35 p.m. Sunday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Colorado Rockies

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (1-1, 4.06) vs. RH Alex Gillingham (3-4, 4.59); Friday, LH Luis Cruz (5-3, 3.63) vs. RH Chris Jensen (6-2, 5.32); Saturday, RH Jonas Dufek (3-1, 5.28) vs. RH Daniel Winkler (8-3, 4.93); Sunday, RH Nick Tropeano (5-4, 3.27) vs. LH Tyler Anderson (5-0, 3.32).

Will Swanner

Tourist to watch: All-star C Will Swanner (6-foot-2, 195 pounds, from Cardiff, Calif.) leads Asheville with a .620 slugging percentage and a gaudy 1.038 OPS. He ranks second on the team in batting average (.331), on-base percentage (.418) and doubles (18). Over 41 games, he also has seven homers, 31 RBI and 34 runs. Ranked by Baseball America as the 21st-best prospect in the Rockies system, the right-hander was drafted in the 15th round of the 2010 draft out of high school in Carlsbad, Calif., signing for $490,000. He spent his first two pro seasons with the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League, batting .277 with 17 homers and 37 RBI over 61 games. Swanner has been efficient versus both right-handers and left-handers this season, hitting .333 against the former and .325 facing the latter. With runners on base, he’s batting .358.

Mike Kvasnicka

Legend to watch: C Mike Kvasnicka (6-2, 213, from Lakeville, Minn.), a switch-hitter who throws right-handed, played third base for the Legends last season. In addition, he can play in the outfield corners. He got off to a slow start this year, but has steadily picked up the pace and is officially red-hot. Kvasnicka batted .118 in April, .229 in May and is off to a 13-for-36 (.361) start in June. Sunday, he homered from both sides of the plate at Greensboro. Over his last four games, Kvasnicka is 7-for-14 (.500), with three homers, six RBI and five runs. Selected by the Astros in the supplemental first round (33rd overall) of the 2010 draft, out of the University of Minnesota, he signed for $936,000. He is rated by Baseball America as the 25th-best prospect in the Houston system. His father, Jay, was an eighth-round pick in 1988 and made it to Class 3A in the Twins system. Mike broke in with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League in 2010, batting .234 with five homers and 36 RBI for 68 games. Last year with the Legends, he hit .260 with four homers and 59 RBI over 128 games. He also was an SAL mid-season all-star.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Promotions: Thursday is Autism Awareness Night and Thirsty Thursday ($1 beer and soft drinks). Friday, the first 1,000 fans will receive an Alan “Stein” beer stein in honor of the former Legends president and CEO; it’s also Bluegrass Mobility Night, to be followed by a fireworks show. Saturday is Bark in the Park Night for non-aggressive, well-behaved dogs; entertainment by America’s Best Frisbee Dogs. Also, it’s State Championship Night, honoring all high school athletes who have won individual and/or team championships.  Sunday, Father’s Day, all dads are invited to arrive early and play catch on the field with their son or daughter. It’s also Kids Club Sunday, including post-game opportunity to run the bases. Following the Legends-Tourists game, it’s the annual Guns ‘n Hoses softball game between the Lexington police and fire departments.

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

When: Saturday through Tuesday (6:05 p.m. Saturday; 2:05 Sunday; 7:05 Monday and Tuesday)

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

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Colorado Rockies

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Nick Tropeano (1-2, 2.36) vs. RH Chris Jensen (2-0, 3.76); Sunday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Daniel Winkler (2-2, 6.75); Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (4-1, 1.62) vs. RH Ben Alsup (4-0, 3.98); Tuesday, LH Luis Cruz (1-1, 4.15) vs. RH Alex Gillingham (2-2, 6.08).

Matt Duffy

Legend to watch: 3B Matt Duffy (6-foot-3, 227 pounds, from Milton, Mass.) is batting .315, leads the team in total bases (53) and is tied for the lead in homers (4). Through 27 games, Duffy is 34-for-108, with seven doubles, 14 RBI, 14 runs and a stolen base. Selected by the Astros in the 20th round of last year’s draft, out of the University of Tennessee, Duffy earned New York-Penn League all-star honors with the Tri-City ValleyCats. For 63 games, he batted .298, with two homers, 37 RBI, 36 runs, 20 doubles and a triple. Duffy, who bats and throws righty, is hitting .333 against right-handers this season, .267 versus left-handers.

Harold Riggins

Tourist to watch: 1B Harold Riggins (6-2, 240, from Normal, Ill.) leads Asheville with 26 RBI and 51 total bases, and is tied for the lead in homers with five. Batting .311, he is among the top three on the team in OPS (.974), slugging (.567), hits (28), runs (19) and doubles (8). A seventh-round draft pick of the Rockies last June, out of North Carolina State, he was MVP of the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, batting .562 with two doubles, a triple, two homers and five RBI in four games. Last year, as a junior, he batted .314, with 11 doubles and 35 RBI. Then, with the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League, Riggins hit .279, with eight homers and 35 RBI over 67 games. He was originally selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 35th round of the 2008 draft but did not sign.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

                                          South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. West Virginia Power

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Pittsburgh Pirates

Quevedo

Sogard

Alaniz

Foltynewicz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Wednesday, RH Carlos Quevedo (4-2, 5.62) vs. RH Zack Von Rosenberg (0-4, 7.53); Thursday, LH Alex Sogard (1-1, 3.42) vs. RH Tyler Waldron (4-2, 4.30); Friday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (2-6, 4.77) vs. RH Jameson Taillon (1-1, 3.10); Saturday, RH Ruben Alaniz (2-4, 6.20) vs. RH Brandon Cumpton (6-3, 4.53)

Brandon Cumpton

Power to watch: Saturday’s starting pitcher Brandon Cumpton (6-foot-2, 198 pounds, from Evans, Ga.) leads West Virginia in wins and innings pitched (through Monday). A ninth-round draft pick last year out of Georgia Tech, Cumpton is 6-3 with a 4.53 ERA over 10 games, including nine starts, and 51 2/3 innings. The right-hander has struck out 39 and walked 13, holding opponents to a .225 batting average. Cumpton, 22, got rocked for seven earned runs in each of his first three starts. In seven games since, he has yielded a total of five earned runs, never more than one in a game. In May, he went 6-0 with a 1.18 ERA. Cumpton broke into pro ball last summer with the State College Spikes of the New York-Penn League, going 0-1 with a 2.53 ERA, six strikeouts and five walks over four games and 10 2/3 innings. At Georgia Tech last year, he went 9-3 with a 5.50 ERA while making 15 starts.

Ben Orloff

Legend to watch: 2B/SS Ben Orloff (5-11, 171, from Simi Valley, Calif.) is hitting a solid .338 with six RBI and 14 runs over 23 games. He has drawn seven walks while striking out only three times and has stolen four bases. Orloff has a .420 on-base percentage and .416 slugging. He is batting .478 when facing left-handers. A 2009 ninth-round draft pick, he was a Lowe’s Senior CLASS All-Senior All-America first teamer (based on excellence in the classroom, character, community and competition) with Cal-Irvine. The all-American shortstop won the 2009 Brooks Wallace Award. Orloff was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2008 but opted to return to Irvine for his senior year and earn his degree in criminology. He led the Anteaters to a No. 1 ranking and their first Big West Conference championship. He finished as the school’s all-time leader in multiple categories, including hits (281) and runs (178), and stole the second-most bases (61) in school history. Orloff split time in 2009 between Greeneville (11 games) and Tri-City (28 games), hitting below .200 with both clubs. He turned things around last year at Tri-City, where he was an all-star and team MVP, winning both a team Defensive Player of the Month (July) and Offensive Player of the Month (August) award. He finished with a .307 average, 16 RBI and 52 runs scored over 63 games, with 23 stolen bases.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                                South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 Friday night, 6:05 p.m. Saturday, 2:05 p.m. Sunday, 11:05 a.m. Monday)

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

Major League affilates: Houston Astros (Legends), Colorado Rockies

Alaniz

Quevedo

Foltynewicz

Minaya

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Ruben Alaniz (2-2, 5.81) vs. RH Peter Tago (0-0, 0.00); Saturday, RH Carlos Quevedo (3-1, 5.50) vs. LH Edwar Cabrera (3-1, 4.14); Sunday, RH Juan Minaya (1-3, 5.94) vs. RH Albert Campos (2-2, 6.63); Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (1-6, 6.05) vs. RH Joshua Slaats (0-1, 10.07).

Jiovanni Mier (Maloney photo)

Mier

Legend to watch: SS Jiovanni Mier (6-foot-2, 180 pounds, from Las Vegas) 8-for-25 (.320) over seven games against the Tourists. He has a double, two homers, six RBI and eight runs against Asheville, with five walks and four strikeouts. For 35 games overall, Mier is batting .271 with four homers, 17 RBI, 27 runs and four stolen bases. Mier has a .394 on-base percentage, .442 slugging. He is tied for second in the league with 26 walks (through Wednesday). A 2009 first-round draft pick (21st overall), he was the first high school shortstop selected that year and signed for $1.358 million. Playing with the Greeneville Astros in 2009, he ranked as the top position prospect in the Appalachian League after hitting .276 with seven homers, 32 RBI, a .380 on-base percentage adn .484 slugging. With the Legends last year, he was hitting below .200 as late as June 17 before a strong finish lifted his final totals to .235 with two homers, 53 RBI, .323 on-base and .314 slugging for 131 games. Baseball America rates him as the fifth-best prospect in the Astros system.

Cabrera

Edwar Cabrera (Maloney photo)

Tourist to watch: LHP Edwar Cabrera (6-0, 187, from Bani, Dominican Republic) is 2-0 in two starts against the Legends, allowing only an unearned run and eight hits over 13 1/3 innings. He has struck out 17 Legends and issued seven walks (six coming in a 1-0 victory Monday), holding Lexington to a .182 batting average. Cabrera, 23, is 3-1 overall with a 4.14 ERA over eight starts. He has 68 strikeouts and 11 walks, holding opponents to a .234 batting average. He leads the league in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings (12.24), and ranks second in innings pitched (50.0). Signed as a free agent in 2008, Cabrera is rated by Baseball America as the 30th-best prospect in the Rockies system. He played for both the Dominican Summer League Rockies and Casper of the Pioneer League in 2008 and 2009, then stepped up a level to the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League last year. He led the league in strikeouts (87) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.7). He had a 3.07 ERA, although he finished with a 1-8 record in 14 starts.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                                  South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 Friday and Saturday nights, 2:05 p.m. Sunday, 10:05 a.m. Monday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call  (859) 422-7867 

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Colorodo Rockies

Foltynewicz

Minaya

Dydalewicz

Quevedo

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (0-3, 8.57) vs. RH Ricardo Ferrer (0-3, 9.00); Saturday, RH Carlos Quevedo (3-1, 5.40) vs. RH Erik Stavert (1-2, 8.54); Sunday, RH Juan Minaya (0-3, 6.67) vs. RH Josh Mueller (1-1, 3.12); Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-6, 6.63) vs. LH Edwar Cabrera (2-1, 4.03).

Bryce Massanari

Tourist to watch: C Bryce Massanari (6-foot-1, 225 pounds, from Las Vegas) is batting .369 with a team-leading seven homers and 26 RBI over 28 games (through Thurday). A 2009 30th round draft choice out of the University of Georgia, Massanari didn’t make his pro debut until 2010. He hit .242 for the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League, with six homers and 23 RBI. This season, 16 of his 41 hits have been for extra bases. He carries a whopping 1.076 OPS, with an on-base percentage of .437 and slugging of .640. He is batting .344 against left-handers, .380 versus right-handers, and won SAL Player of the Week honors on April 25.

Delino DeShields Jr.

Legend to watch: 2B Delino DeShields Jr. (5-9, 203, from Ocala, Fla.) has been heating up over his last eight games, going 11-for-35 (.314) with four doubles, a triple, two homers, five walks and two stolen bases. He also has driven in eight runs and scored six times during that span. A first-round pick (eighth overall) last June, he was recruited by LSU for baseball and by Georgia and Ole Miss for football. His father, Delino Sr., also was a first-round draft pick (12th overall in 1987) and stole 463 bases over 13 seasons in the major leagues. Delino Jr., rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the Houston system, signed for an Astros draft-record $2.125 million out of Woodward Academy. He played two games in the Gulf Coast League last summer and 16 with Greeneville of the Appalachian League, combining to hit .289 with eight RBI, 11 runs, six doubles, a triple and five stolen bases in six attempts. Baseball America rates his as the fastest runner, best athlete and best pure hitter in Houston’s 2010 draft class. Overall this season, DeShields is batting .236 with four homers, 11 RBI, 15 runs and eight stolen bases.

Transaction: Legends RHP Yordany Ramirez has been promoted to High-A Lancaster. Filling his roster spot is C Ryan McCurdy, who has been reassigned from extended spring training. Ramirez was 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA over four relief appearances totaling seven innings for the Legends. McCurdy, out of Duke University, was signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent last June. Over six games with Greeneville and 14 with the Tri-City ValleyCats last season, McCurdy his .148 with one RBI and four runs scored.

Promotions: Here’s what is in store for the series. Friday — Blue Grass Energy Night, featuring The Last American Cowboy (rope-twirling act) and Ford Fireworks Night. Saturday — Bark In The Park, presented by IncrediPet and ABC 36; all well-behaved, non-aggressive dogs on leashes allowed in general admission and lawn areas only. Minimum donation of $1 per dog, proceeds to benefit the Lexington Humane Society. Sunday — JIF Kids Club Sunday. Kids Club members may buy a box seat for $2. Monday — Education Day, welcoming students from throughout Kentucky.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends at Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 Friday and Monday nights; 6:05 p.m. Saturday; 2:05 p.m. Sunday)

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

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends); Colorado Rockies

Foltynewicz

Minaya

Dydalewicz

Quevedo

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (0-0, 1.80) vs. RH Ricardo Ferrer (0-0, 4.50); Saturday, RH Carlos Quevedo (1-0, 4.50) vs. RH Erik Stavert (0-0, 2.25); Sunday, RH Juan Minaya (0-1, 5.40) vs. RH Joshua Slaats (0-0, 1.80); Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-2, 4.91) vs. LH Edwar Cabrera (1-1, 4.91).

Gouvea

Legend to watch: RHP Murilo Gouvea (6-foot-2, 200 pounds, from Sao Paulo, Brazil) Is the first Brazilian to play for the Legends. In one appearance last two innings, he has yielded an unearned run, a hit and a walk while striking out two. Orginally signed by the Chicago White Sox in 2006, he made his pro debut with the Dominican Summer League White Sox in 2007. He progressed to Bristol in 2008 and part of 2009. Also in 2009, he reached the South Atlantic League with the Kannapolis Intimidators. Since joining the Astros system, he appeared with Greeneville and Tri-City before moving up to Lexington this season. In his four seasons before joining the Legends, Gouvea appeared in 61 games, including 22 starts. He compiled a 9-12 record, two saves adn a 5.49 ERA, with 206 strikeouts and 87 walks.

Garneau

Tourist to watch: C Dustin “Drago” Garneau (6-1, 225, from San Pedro, Calif.) is 7-for-14 (.500) through his first four games of the season, with six RBI and four runs scored. Those hits include a pair of solo home runs and three doubles. A 2009 19th-round draft pick out of Cal State-Fullerton, Garneau has a gaudy 1.705OPS (combined on-base and slugging percentages of .563 and 1.143. Garneau made his pro debut in 2009 with the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League, going 18-for-72 (.250) over 23 games, with a homer and 13 RBI. Last year, he played 42 games for Tri-City of the Northwest League and 12 games with Modesto of the California League. Combined, he went 45-for-185 (.243), with three homers and 34 RBI.

Notes: The Legends activated 1B Telvin Nash (right groin strain) from the seven-day disabled list Wednesday. To make room for Nash, RHP Ruben Alaniz was reassigned to the Tri-City ValleyCats and, in the interim, extended spring training.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300