Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Kannapolis Intimidators

What: Four-game series

When: Tuesday through Friday (7:05 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights, 12:05 p.m. Wednesday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Chicago White Sox

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (9-2, 2.74) vs. RH Erik Johnson (1-1, 2.54); Wednesday, LH Luis Cruz (5-5, 3.75) vs. RH Chris Devenski (5-3, 4.19); Thursday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (2-3, 5.43) vs. LH Scott Snodgress (3-3, 3.80); Friday, RH Jonas Dufek (5-2, 5.67) vs. RH Myles Jaye 3-6, 5.70).

Chris Curley

Intimidator to watch: 3B Chris Curley (6-foot-1, 210 pounds, age 25, from Fort Mitchell, Ky., bats/throws R/R) joined the team over the weekend, signed from the independent Florence Freedom. The former Campbellsville University standout went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI and two strikeouts Sunday against Greensboro. Originally signed by the Braves three years ago, Curley played for the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League in 2009, then for Danville, the SAL’s Rome Braves and Carolina League’s Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2010.  Most of his experience came with Rome, where he hit .214 with three homers, 23 RBI and 23 runs over 61 games. With Florence this season, Curley hit .356 with 10 homers, 44 RBI, 35 runs, 12 doubles, two triples and seven stolen bases in 42 games.

Ruben Sosa

Legend to watch: 2B Ruben Sosa (5-7, 160, age 21, from Lawrence, Mass., bats/throws S/R) is 4-for-9 (.444) with two RBI and a run since moving from the Greeneville Astros of the Appy League to the Legends on June 30. Selected by the Astros in the 23rd round of the 2011 draft out of Oklahoma City University, the native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, played 39 games for Greeneville and 11 for the Legends. For the 50 games combined, hit batted .239 with 20 RBI, 31 runs, nine doubles, a triple and 14 stolen bases.

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

(Updates Power rotation)

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at West Virginia Power

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 2:05 p.m. Sunday)

Where: Appalachian Power Park (Charleston, W.Va.)

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, LH Luis Cruz (5-3, 3.49) vs. LH Zack Dodson (1-5, 6.12); Friday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (1-1, 4.38) vs. RH Robby Rowland (2-1, 3.12); Saturday, RH Jonas Dufek (4-1, 4.87) vs. RH Ryan Hafner (0-4, 6.34); Sunday, RH Nick Tropeano (5-4, 2.99) vs. RH Zack Von Rosenberg (0-1, 4.73). 

Murilo Gouvea

Legend to watch: RHP Murilo Gouvea (6-foot-2, 210 pounds, from Sao Paulo, Brazil) has become a force in the bullpen.  In addition to his 2-3 record, one save and 2.66 ERA, Gouvea leads the team with eight holds. All of his 26 appearances have come in relief, spanning 40 2/3 innings. He has notched 48 strikeouts to 11 walks, holding opponents to a .211 batting average. Although he has made 13 appearances each home and away, all of his decisions have come at home, where he has a 3.92 ERA. On the road, his ERA is 1.35. Gouvea has improved each month, posting a 4.11 ERA in April, 2.25 in May and 0.96 so far in June. Originally signed as free agent Nov. 17, 2006,  by the White Sox, he pitched for the Dominican Summer League White Sox in 2007, Bristol of the Appalachian League in 2008, Bristol, the SAL’s Kannapolis Intimidators and Greeneville Astros in 2009, the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League in 2010, and Tri-City and Lexington in 2011. Combined, he went 10-16 with three saves and a 5.09 ERA, striking out 292 and walking 116 over 252 2/3 innings. With the Legends last year, Gouvea was 1-3 with a 3.98 ERA in 30 relief appearances spanning 74 2/3 innings, with 83 strikeouts.

Jose Osuna

Power to watch: 1B Jose Osuna (6-2, 213, from Trujillo, Venezuela), batting .267, ranks fourth on the team in homers (4), RBI (29) and total bases (97). He also is tied for second in doubles (20) and is third in hits (65) and runs (34). Signed by the Pirates as an undrafted free agent for $275,000 in 2009, Osuna, 19, is rated by Baseball America as the 30th-best prospect in the Pittsburgh system. He hit .251 with 10 homers and 43 RBI in 64 games with the Venezuelan Summer League Pirates in 2010. Last year, he hit .331 with four homers and 32 RBI over 48 games with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, and went 2-for-8 (.250) in two games with the NYPL’s State College Spikes. Osuna, who bats and throws right-handed, is hitting .204 versus left-handed pitchers this season, .286 against righties.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. West Virginia Power

What: Three-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Jonas Dufek (2-1, 5.30) vs. RH Zack Von Rosenberg (0-0, 0.00); Tuesday, RH Nick Tropeano (5-3, 2.82) vs. RH Nicholas Kingham (1-4, 5.51); Wednesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (8-1, 2.07) vs. LH Zack Dodson (1-4, 5.61).

Willy Garcia

Power to watch: OF Willy Garcia (6-foot-3, 180 pounds, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is batting .274 with eight homers and 41 RBI going into play Sunday. He went 3-for-5 Friday and again Saturday. In seven June games, Garcia is 10-for-28 (.357). He leads the Power in RBI, ranks second in homers and third in hits (59) and total bases (93). Garcia, who throws and bats righty, is at his best against left-handed pitchers, batting .341 (.257 vs. RHP). Signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent, Garcia made his pro debut in 2010 with the Dominican Summer League Pirates, batting .250 with a homer and 22 RBI for 51 games. Last year, over 47 games with the Gulf Coast League Pirates and three games with the State College Spikes of the New York-Penn League, he batted .266 with five homers and 35 RBI.

Carlos Quevedo

Legend to watch: RHP Carlos Quevedo (6-2, 239, from Valencia, Venezuela) is one of seven Legends selected for the South Atlantic League All-Star Game. Going into play Sunday, Quevedo had made 19 appearances, including two starts, and worked 44 2/3 innings. At 4-1 overall, with three saves and a 2.82 ERA, Quevedo had piled up 49 strikeouts and walked only five, while holding opponents to a .222 batting average. Exclude his two starts and his numbers are even more impressive: 4-0, three saves, 0.96 ERA, .171 batting average. Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 2007, he spent the 2007-08 seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros, combining to go 8-2, with 78 strikeouts and 26 walks over 122 2/3 innings. He moved to the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League in 2009 (2-7, 5.6), the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League in 2010 (7-3, 3.06) and to the Legends last year (8-6, 4.53). Starting in 26 of 27 appearances, he led the 2011 Legends in victories and innings pitched (151). He also had the lowest walks-per-nine-innings ration in the SAL, yielding 19 walks all year.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Promotions: Monday is “Kids Eat Free” night; children 12 and under get a food voucher. Tuesday is “35-cent hot dog” night; enough said. Wednesday is “free hot dog” night for kids 12 and under; fans must pick up a hot dog voucher at a Lexington Meijer location.

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Greensboro Grasshoppers

What: Three-game series

When: Friday through Sunday (7 Friday, Saturday nights; 4 p.m. Sunday)

Where: NewBridge Bank Park (Greensboro, N.C.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Miami Marlins

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (7-1, 2.14) vs. LH Charlie Lowell (3-2, 4.26); Saturday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (1-1, 4.50) vs. RH Austin Brice (5-1, 4.10); Sunday, LH Luis Cruz (5-2, 3.44) vs. LH Adam Conley (6-2, 2.56).

Roberto Pena

Legend to watch: C Roberto Pena (6 feet, 217 pounds, from Caguas, Puerto Rico), the team’s Defensive Player of the Month for May, has picked up on offense, too. Batting .233, with a homer, 13 RBI, 12 runs and five doubles, Pena takes a five-game hitting streak (7-for-19, .368)) into the series. He also has hits in nine of his last 10 games (11-for-39, .282). Selected by the Astros in the seventh round of the 2010 draft, split time that summer with the Gulf Coast League Astros, the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League and (for four games) the Legends. Combined, he finished with a .227 average, 17 RBI and 10 runs over 39 games. Last year, over 82 games with the Legends, Pena batted .217 with five homers, 33 RBI and 31 runs.

Adam Conley

Grasshopper to watch: Sunday starting pitcher Adam Conley (6-3, 200, from Olympia, Wash.) is rated the 10th-best prospect in the Marlins’ system, according to Baseball America, which reports in part: “Washington State’s primary closer as a sophomore, Conley moved into the rotation last spring and impressed the Marlins enough that they popped him in the second round and inked him to a $625,000 bonus. His heavy, two-seam fastball operates at 89-91 mph with good life, and he also throws a 92-94 mph four-seamer that hit 97 mph when he worked out of the bullpen. His sinker has the makings of a plus pitch, as does his straight changeup, which he turns over and fades away from right-handers.” He tied Washington State’s record with 12 saves as a sophomore. He broke in last season with the Gulf Coast League Marlins, but pitched only two innings over two games, giving up one hit and striking out two. In 12 starts this season, Conley has struck out 75 and walked 21 over 63 1/3 innings, while holding opponents to a .190 batting average.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

(Hickory rotation update, Thursday, 1:50 p.m.)

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Hickory Crawdads

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7 Thursday and Friday nights, 6 p.m. Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday)

Where: L.P. Frans Stadium (Hickory, N.C.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Texas Rangers

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-1, 2.15) vs. LH Victor Payano (3-2, 3.57); Friday, LH Luis Cruz (4-1, 2.50) vs. RH Jerad Eickhoff (4-4, 4.64); Saturday, RH Jonas Dufek (1-0, 4.76) vs. RH Nick Martinez (1-1, 4.26); Sunday, RH Nick Tropeano (2-3, 2.73) vs. RH Santo Perez (2-3, 6.16).

Jesse Wierzbicki

Legend to watch: 1B Jesse Wierzbicki (6-foot-3, 202 pounds, from Sharpsburg, Ga.) was promoted Tuesday from extended spring training. Selected by the Astros in the 24th round of last year’s draft, out of the University of North Carolina, he played 45 games with the Appalachian League’s Greeneville Astros last summer. He went 43-for-162 (.265), with 12 doubles, a triple and five homers. He also drove in 28 runs and scored 23, walked 22 times and stole three bases. Wierzbicki also was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 40th round of the 2008 draft. With the Legends, he replaces John Hinson, who is on the seven-day disabled list due to a strained right hamstring.

Chris Grayson

Crawdad to watch: OF Chris Grayson (6-2, 195, from Monroe, La.) ranks second in the league (through Tuesday) with a .340 batting average. In addition to batting, he leads the Crawdads in runs (28), doubles (15), triples (3), on-base percentage (.430), slugging (.525), OPS (.954) and total bases (77). With those numbers, he also has a pair of homers, 17 RBI and nine stolen bases. Selected by the Rangers in the 13th round of last year’s draft, out of Lee University, Grayson bats and throws left-handed. He broke into pro ball last year, hitting .288 over 48 games with the Arizona League Rangers. He knocked two home runs, with eight doubles, five triples, 30 RBI, 34 runs and 17 steals. He got off to a hot start this season, batting .400 in April. He has dropped to .269 in his first 19 games of May. Overall, he’s batting .411 with runners on base.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. West Virginia Power

What: Three-game series

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

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Jonas Dufek (1-0, 4.96) vs. RH Ryan Hafner (0-3, 8.24); Tuesday, RH Nick Tropeano (2-3, 2.91) vs. TBA; Wednesday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (0-1, 8.49) vx. LH Zack Dodson (1-4, 6.17).

Alen Hanson

Power to watch: Switch-hitting 2B Alen Hanson (5-foot-11, 152 pounds, from La Romana, Dominican Republic) leads the Power in games played (42), at-bats (177), average (.339), hits (60), runs (40), doubles (16), triples (6), stolen bases (13), total bases (106) and OPS (.984), and shares the team lead in walks (14). He is second on the team in homers (6) and third in RBI (21). Signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent July 14, 2009, Hanson hit .324 and had two homers, 28 RBI, 48 runs and 20 stolen bases for the 2010 Dominican Summer League Pirates. Last year, in 52 games with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, Hanson led the league in triples (7), was second in steals (24) and fourth in runs (42), while batting .263 with two homers and 35 RBI. He also played three games for State College of the New York-Penn League. This season, he’s batting .355 against left-handers, .336 versus righties; .376 at home, and .304 on the road.

Delino DeShields Jr.

Legend to watch: 2B Delino DeShields Jr. (5-9, 203, from Ocala, Fla.) leads the league in stolen bases, swiping 26 in 27 attempts. Batting .239 with two homers and 15 RBI, the 19-year-old right-hander leads the Legends with 30 runs and shares the team lead with 26 walks. His father, Delino Sr., played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues and stole 463 bases. Both father and son were first-round draft picks — Senior went 12th in the 1987 draft; the Astros selected Junior with the eighth pick of the 2010 draft, then signed him for a franchise-record $2.125 million. He played only 18 games in the summer of 2010, two for the Gulf Coast League Astros and 16 for Greeneville of the Appalachian League, batting .289 with eight RBI, 14 runs and five stolen bases. With the Legends last year, as the sixth-youngest player in the SAL, DeShields Jr. learned his new position (moving from center field) while batting .220, with nine homers, 48 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 41 attempts.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
at Kannapolis Intimidators

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 5:05 Sunday)

Where: CMC-NorthEast Stadium (Kannapolis, N.C.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Chicago White Sox

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Nick Tropeano (2-2, 2.23) vs. LH Blair Walters (1-2, 3.38); Friday, RH Luis Ordosgoitti (0-1, 10.57) vs. LH Scott Snodgress (1-1, 4.29); Saturday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (4-1, 1.62) vs. RH Kevin Vance (2-1, 4.02); Sunday, LH Luis Cruz (3-1, 2.95) vs. RH Myles Jaye (1-1, 4.02).

Mike Foltynewicz

Legend to watch: Saturday starter Mike Foltynewicz (6-foot-4, 209 pounds, from Minooka, Ill.) is off to a great start. He leads the Legends with eight starts and 44 1/3 innings, has the best ERA (1.62) among the starters and shares the team lead in victories. At 4-1, he has struck out 39 and walked 18, holding opponents to a .235 average. His only loss came in the season opener, when he gave up six runs (two earned) in 2 2/3 innings. In seven starts since, he has given up no more than one earned run in six games. Over three starts this month, he is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA. Selected by the Astros in the first round (19th overall) of the 2010 draft, Foltynewicz jumped from high school to the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League and went 0-3, with a 4.03 ERA over 12 starts. Last year, with the Legends, he worked 134 innings over 26 starts, finishing 5-11 with a 4.97 ERA, 88 strikeouts and 51 walks.

Rangel Ravelo

Intimidator to watch: 3B Rangel Ravelo (6-2, 210, from Hialeah, Fla.) is batting .307 with a homer, 19 RBI and 18 runs through 35 appearances. Among his 42 hits are nine doubles and two triples. He also has not been caught in three stolen-base attempts. Ravelo is batting .313 against right-handers, .289 versus left-handers. Selected out of high school by the White Sox in the sixth round of the 2010 draft, he broke into pro ball with Bristol of the Appalachian League. He hit .254 over 48 games. Last year, playing 20 games for Bristol and 43 for the Intimidators, Ravelo hit .338 with 34 RBI and 21 runs.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Greenville Drive

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 Monday and Tuesday nights; 10:05 a.m. Wednesday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Boston Red Sox

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (1-1, 2.08) vs. RH Luis Diaz (0-1, 3.00); Tuesday, RH Tanner Bushue (0-2, 21.94) vs. LH Henry Owens (1-1, 12.15); Wednesday, RH Jonas Dufek (0-0, 6.00) vs. RH Matt Barnes (1-0, 0.00)

David Renfroe

Drive to watch: 3B David Renfroe (6-foot-3, 200 pounds, from Batesville, Miss.) brings a seven-game hitting streak to Lexington. He is second on the Drive with a .355 average (11-for-31) and leads the team in hits (11), doubles (5), homers (2), total bases (22), slugging (.710) and OPS (1.138). Selected by the Red Sox in the third round of the 2009 draft, out of South Panola High School in Batesville, he had committed to play quarterback for the Ole Miss football team. Instead, he turned pro and hit .190 in 2010, with two homers and 13 RBI over 58 games with the Lowell Spinners of the New York-Penn League. Last year, in 107 games for Greenville, Renfroe hit .240 with eight homers, 45 RBI and 43 runs. In high school,where he batted .470 with seven homers,35 RBI and 18 stolen bases as a senior, he pitched and played shortstop. His father, Laddie, made four relief appearances for the Chicago Cubs in 1991.

Luis Cruz

Legend to watch: LHP Luis Cruz (5-9, 170, from San Juan, Puerto Rico) is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA over three relief appearances and 8 1/3 innings. After giving up four runs in his first appearance, he has been solid. He surrendered one run in 1 2/3 innings at Hagerstown. Then, in Thursday’s home opener against Kannapolis, Cruz tossed four innings of one-hit shutout ball. Overall, he has 12 strikeouts and no walks. Selected by the Astros in the ninth round of the 2008 draft, Cruz made seven starts that year for the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League, going 1-1 with a 2.28 ERA. With the same team in 2009, he finished 1-4, 6.75. Cruz spent 2010 with the Legends, making 16 starts and finishing 8-5, 3.61. Last year, he split time between Lexington (5-4, 4.45) and the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League (0-1, 14.54).

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 10:35 a.m. Wednesday)

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends) and Washington Nationals

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Nicholas Tropeano (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Christopher McKenzie (0-0, 0.00); Tuesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-1, 6.75) vs. RH Wirkin Estevez (0-0, 13.50); Wednesday, RH Tanner Bushue (0-1, 27.00) vs. RH Brian Dupra (0-1, 8.10).

Jordan Scott

Legend to watch: LF Jordan Scott (6-foot-2, 180 pounds, from Greenville, S.C.) hit 8-for-13 (.615) in a season-opening four-game series at Greensboro. Scott, 20, bats left and throws right. He was selected by the Astros in the 14th round of the 2010 draft, out of Riverside High School in Greer, S.C. He made his pro debut that year with the Gulf Coast League Astros, hitting .301 with 10 RBI, 19 runs and six stolen bases over 42 games. Last year, he split time with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League (60 games), the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League (5 games) and the Legends (14 games). Overall, he hit .323 with a homer, 43 RBI, 51 runs and 12 stolen bases.

Matthew Skole

Sun to watch: 3B Matthew Skole (6-4, 230, from Woodstock, Ga.) went 6-for-14 (.429) in Hagerstown’s season-opening four-game series. Included were two doubles, as he drove in seven runs and scored one. Like Scott, he bats left and throws right. The Nationals selected him in the fifth round of last year’s draft, out of Georgia Tech, where he clubbed 47 homers over three seasons. He made his pro debut with the Auburn Doubledays of the NYPL. He played 72 games, batting .290 with five homers, 48 RBI, 43 runs and a pair of stolen bases.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300