June 7, 2009
South Atlantic League baseball
Coming up
Lexington Legends vs. Asheville (N.C.) Tourists
What: Three-game series
When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 each night)
Where: Applebee’s Park
Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867
Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Robert Bono (5-2, 1.93) vs. RH Parker Frazier (1-5, 6.48); Tuesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (3-5, 3.10) vs. RH Juan Nicasio (0-0, 1.00); Wednesday, RH Jordan Lyles (2-5, 3.13) vs. RH Dan Houston (1-4, 5.03).
David Christensen
Tourist to watch: RF David Christensen (6-foot-1, 195 pounds, from Margate, Fla.) is among the top 10 in the league in triples (5), homers (9), RBI (31), total bases (94), slugging percentage (.540) and OPS — on-base plus slugging percentages (.854). Also, he is hitting .259, has scored 27 runs and stolen nine bases over 47 games. Selected by the Rockies in the second round of the 2006 draft, Christensen played the past two seasons with the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League. He led the club last season with nine homers and 62 games. He also stole seven bases.
Eric Suttle
Legend to watch: RF Eric Suttle (6-0, 190, from Marietta, Ga.) is hitting .333 (8-for-24) in seven games since joining the Legends last Monday. He also has drawn five walks, boosting his on-base percentage to .448. Suttle played the last two seasons for the Southern Illinois Miners of the independent Frontier League, hitting .271 with six homers and 54 RBI over 144 games in 2008. He led the team with 47 walks last season and, just as in 2007, he totaled five outfield assists. The Astros purchased his contract rights March 11. Suttle began this season in extended spring training and was promoted in mid-May to High-A Lancaster of the California League. In 12 games with the JetHawks, Suttle was 12-for-32 (.375) with seven RBI and four runs. He has reached safely in all seven games with the Legends and takes a six-game hitting streak into Monday’s game.
Radio: WLXG AM-1300
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Applebee's Park, Asheville Tourists, Baseball, California League, Casper Ghosts, Colorado Rockies, Dan Houston, David Christensen, Eric Suttle, Frontier League, Houston Astros, Jordan Lyles, Juan Nicasio, Kyle Greenwalt, Lancaster JetHawks, Lexington Legends, Parker Frazier, Pioneer League, Robert Bono, South Atlantic League, Southern Illinois Miners | 
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Posted by Mark Maloney
June 1, 2009
South Atlantic League Baseball
Coming up
Lexington Legends vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods
What: Three-game series
When: Tuesday through Thursday (7:05 Central each night)
Where: Bowling Green (Ky.) Ballpark
Tickets: (270) 901-2121
Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Robert Bono (5-1, 1.98) vs. pitcher to be named; Wednesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (2-5, 2.98) vs. LH Frank De Los Santos (3-3, 3.38); Thursday, RH Jordan Lyles (2-5, 3.31) vs. RH Joe Cruz (1-2, 2.08).
Joe Cruz
Hot Rod to watch: Thursday’s starter, RHP Joe Cruz (6-foot-4, 190 pounds, from Baldwin Park, Calif.), hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his seven starts, and he’s only allowed two runs once. Over 30 1/3 innings, he has 34 strikeouts to eight walks, holding opponents to a .280 average. Selected by Tampa Bay in the 30th round of the 2007 draft, out of East Los Angeles Junior College, Cruz appeared in 16 games over the last season-plus (three games in 2007) for Princeton of the Appalachian League, where he went 3-3 with a 2.71 ERA, 75 strikeouts and 17 walks. Baseball America rates him 23rd among Tampa Bay prospects, noting that he has “demonstrated a live arm with above-average control.” He comes armed with a 90-94 mph fastball, a curveball and changeup.
Brian Pellegrini
Legend to watch: 1B/OF Brian Pellegrini (6-1, 240, from Willoughby, Ohio) joined the Legends on May 16 after starting the season with High-A Lancaster. He was Lexington’s primary power hitter last season, when he hit 21 homers and drove in 69 runs over 87 games. He hit .226, with a .331 on-base percentage and .503 slugging. Selected by the Astros in the 12th round of the 2007 draft, out of St. Bonaventure University, he was Atlantic 10 player of the year and an all-star in 2006. At Lancaster this season, Pellegrini hit .171 with seven homers and 15 RBI over 30 games. In 15 games with the Legends, he is hitting .294 with four homers and 12 RBI. He also has drawn nine walks and struck out 14 times. Monday, his three-run homer in the first inning fueled a 5-0 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets.
Jay Austin
Also of note: The Legends made a roster change Monday. CF Jay Austin was placed on the disabled list. He suffered a concussion when he collided with SS Jorge De Leon during the first inning of Saturday’s game. Taking Austin’s spot on the roster is OF Eric Suttle, who comes from Lancaster. In 12 games with the JetHawks, Suttle hit .375 and drove in 12 runs. He played for Southern Illinois of the Frontier League last season. He made his Legends debut Monday, batting second and playing in left. Suttle was 0-for-2, but drew two walks and scored a run in a 5-0 win over Augusta.
Radio: WLXG AM-1300
1 Comment | Appalachian League, Atlantic 10 Conference, Augusta GreenJackets, Baseball, Baseball America, Bowling Green Hot Rods, Brian Pellegrini, East Los Angeles Junior College, Eric Suttle, Frank De Los Santos, Frontier League, Houston Astros, Jay Austin, Joe Cruz, Jordan Lyles, Jorge De Leon, Kyle Greenwalt, Lancaster JetHawks, Lexington Legends, Princeton, Robert Bono, South Atlantic League, Southern Illinois, St. Bonaventure University, Tampa Bay Rays, WLXG AM-1300 | Permalink
Posted by Mark Maloney
Ask me when I fell in love with sports and you may as well ask when I first registered a pulse. I can't recall ever being without either. 
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