Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

                              Lexington Legends
   vs. Rome Braves

What: Four-game series

When: Saturday through Tuesday (7:05 each night, except Sunday at 2:05 p.m.)

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Robert Bono (7-4, 2.16) vs. RH Paul Clemens (4-3, 5.25); Sunday, RH Ross Seaton (6-7, 2.73) vs. RH Randall Delgado (1-7, 5.66); Monday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (6-7, 3.61) vs. LH Dimaster Delgado (1-2, 3.62); Tuesday, RH Jordan Lyles (5-7, 3.15) vs. RH Zeke Spruill (7-4, 3.32).

Adam Milligan

Brave to watch: OF Adam Milligan (6-foot-3, 210 pounds, from Morristown, Tenn.) was promoted to Rome on Friday, up from Danville of the Appalachian League. Milligan hit .439 with two homers, five doubles, a triple and 10 RBI in nine games with Danville. Atlanta took him in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, the third time the Braves selected the left-handed-hitting power hitter (who throws right-handed). He backed out of a committment to Vanderbilt, signing for $350,000. Milligan roomed with the son of Braves scouting director Roy Clark while attending Walters State (Tenn.) Community College. He also was recruited for football, out of Hardin County High School, where he was a Tennessee all-stater three years in a row. He played plenty of positions — quarterback, running back, receiver, kick-returner and safety.

Brian Pellegrini

Legend to watch: 1B Brian Pellegrini (6-1, 240, from Willoughby, Ohio) has tormented SAL pitchers since joining the Legends on May 16. Pellegrini began the season with High-A Lancaster of the California League, batting .171 with seven homers and 15 RBI over 30 games. Over 40 games with the Legends (through Thursday), Pellegrini is hitting .366 with 12 homers and 35 RBI. His 12 homers tie him for fifth in the league. He does not have enough appearances to qualify for league leaders in most categories, but his .366 batting, .441 on-base and .697 slugging numbers, as well as a gaudy 1.138 OPS would otherwise rank first. He hit .437 (38-for-87) with nine homers and 26 RBI in June. Pellegrini also spent much of last season with the Legends, notching 21 homers and 69 RBI over 87 games. His 33 career homers are a club record. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 12th round of the 2007 draft, out of St. Bonaventure University, he was the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year in 2006.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

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.

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods

What: Two-game series

When: Thursday and Friday (8:05 EDT each night)

Where: Bowling Green Ballpark

Tickets: Call (270) 901-2121

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (3-1, 2.05) vs. RH Nick Barnese (0-0, 1.80); Friday, RH Ross Seaton (6-5, 2.49) vs. LH Matt Moore (3-2, 3.30).

Matthew Moore

Hot Rod to watch: Friday starter Matt Moore (6-foot-1, 207 pounds, from Edgewood, N.M.) is coming off a pair of starts that earned him SAL Pitcher of the Week honors. After tossing four innings of no-run, four-hit ball against Rome, Moore fired a seven-inning no-run, no-hit gem at Asheville. The two-game total: 0 runs, 4 hits, 3 walks, 18 strikeouts. Overall, Moore has made 11 starts. Over 46 1/3 innings, he has struck out 69, walked 36 and held opponents to a .175 batting average. Included in that is a four-inning, no-decision appearance against the Legends on April 26. He gave up three earned runs, two hits and four walks in that game, striking out five as the Hot Rods won 7-6. He is rated by Baseball America as the sixth-best prospect in the Tampa Bay system. Now a week shy of his 20th birthday, Moore was selected by the Rays in the eighth round of the 2007 draft, signing for $115,000. Out of Moriarty High School, he was Gatorade Player of the Year in New Mexico as a senior. Last year, he was 3-2 with a 1.66 ERA over 12 starts and led the Appalachian League with 77 strikeouts (vs. 19 walks). He led all of minor-league ball with 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings, and by holding opponents to a .154 batting average.

Henry Villar

Legend to watch: RHP Henry Villar (5-11, 150, from Bonao, Dominican Republic) has been effective in a variety of roles. His 16 appearances include three starts. He is 1-1, with a save, five holds and a 1.71 ERA. He has worked 42 innings, with 50 strikeouts and 11 walks while holding opponents to a .221 batting average. Villar, 22, pitched two innings of relief in the same April contest that Bowling Green’s Moore faced the Legends, giving up a run and three hits while striking out two. Villar joined the Houston Astros system in July, 2005. He spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before moving to Greeneville of the Appalachian League last year. Over those three seasons, Villar was 8-11, with a 3.09 ERA over 39 games (13 each year) and 180 1/3 innings, with 166 strikeouts and 33 walks.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

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. 

Charley Taylor lifted spirits in the Lexington Legends clubhouse by making his first appearance of the season Friday.

Charley Taylor

Travis Driskill

Taylor, who has started all nine of the Legends seasons as pitching coach (he finished one season at Triple-A New Orleans), is recovering from surgery to remove his prostate and cancerous bladder. Travis Driskill, pitching coach for the rookie-league Greeneville (Tenn.) Astros, has filled in admirably in Taylor’s absence. Taylor had hoped to return to coaching this season but Friday, for the first time, said that might not be realistic.

With the Appalachian League prepared to open play June 23, the parent-club Houston Astros have taken steps to fill the void if Taylor is unable to return this season.

Driskill will remain with the Legends.

Rick Aponte

Aponte pitched six seasons (1975-80) in the Astros system, reaching the Triple-A Charleston Charlies and Tuscon Toros.

Bailey, Moore earn Pitcher of the Week honors

Homer Bailey

Cincinnati Reds prospect Homer Bailey, now with the Louisville Bats, has been named the International League’s pitcher of the week.

Tampa Bay Rays prospect Matthew Moore, with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, has earned the same title in the South Atlantic League.

Bailey made two starts last week, winning at Pawtucket and at home against Lehigh Valley. He worked 14 2/3 innings and did not allow an earned run as he improved to 6-4 overall, with a 2.52 ERA. He scattered 11 hits over those two games, striking out 14 and walking two.

Matthew Moore

Moore also pitched twice last week, getting a no-decision against Rome and a win at Asheville. In all, he worked 11 innings, did not give up an earned run, with four hits, 18 strikeouts and three walks. Moore, 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA overall, worked seven no-hit innings at Asheville, where he fanned 12 and walked two.

There’s a change in probable pitching matchups for Saturday’s game between the Lexington Legends and Rome Braves, at Rome.

The Braves have changed their Saturday probable from RH Randall Delgado to RH David Francis (1-1, 4.19).

David Francis

That leaves the probable matchups this way (Legends listed first): Wednesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (2-1, 0.78) vs. RH Jacob Thompson (0-2, 4.28); Thursday, RH Jordan Lyles (1-2, 4.94) vs. LH Brett DeVall (0-1, 4.91); Friday, RH Ross Seaton (4-1, 0.91) vs. RH Zeke Spruill (4-0, 2.39); Saturday, RH Henry Villar (0-0, 2.37) vs. RH David Francis (1-1, 4.19).

Reds Alert

A tip of the hat to Rob Butcher, Cincinnati Reds director of media relations, for the following:

SS Alex Gonzalez left Monday’s game at Florida after the 10th inning due to a strained left oblique muscle. He received a cortisone shot Tuesday and will be evaluated at the ballpark Wednesday. … 3B Edwin Encarnacion (chip fracture, left wrist) is to have his cast removed Wednesday. He will be examined and then fitted with a removable splint.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Reds’ four shutouts over a six-game span is something that has happened for the Reds only twice before in the live-ball era. The starters in this week’s shutout victories

Brandon Phillips

were Edinson Volquez, Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto and Volquez. Starters in the previous instances: Elmer Riddle, Johnny Vander Meer, Joe Beggs and Vander Meer in 1943; and Gary Nolan, Jim McGlothlin, Jim Merritt and Nolan in 1970.

In Tuesday’s 7-0 win over the Marlins, Brandon Phillips matched his career high of six RBI, the third time he has done so. During the expansion era, only three other starting second basemen have had at least three six-RBI games: Jeff Kent (7), Bret Boone (5) and Ryne Sandberg (3).

South Atlantic League Baseball

Coming up 

Lexington Legends vs. Rome Braves

Jordan Lyles

Kyle Greenwalt

What: Four-game series

When: Wednesday through Saturday (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday at 7 p.m.; Thursday at 10:30 a.m.)

Where: State Mutual Stadium (Rome, Ga.)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Wednesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (2-1, 0.78)

Ross Seaton

Henry Villar

vs. RH Jacob Thompson (0-2, 4.28); Thursday, RH Jordan Lyles (1-2, 4.94) vs. LH Brett DeVall (0-1, 4.91); Friday, RH Ross Seaton (4-1, 0.91) vs. RH Zeke Spruill (4-0, 2.39); Saturday, RH Henry Villar (0-0, 2.37) vs. RH Randall Delgado (1-3, 4.03).

Brave to watch: 1B Gerardo Rodriguez (6-foot-1, 195 pounds, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) leads the Braves in hits (28), triples (3), homers (5), RBI (15) and total

Gerardo Rodriguez

bases (54), and shares the team lead in doubles (5). Also has played error-free ball at first base. Originally signed by the Yankees after the 2004 season, when he was 17. Joined the Braves in 2008, leading Danville in homers (13) and RBI (49). the latter total ranking third in the Appalachian League. 

Arcenio Leon

Legend to watch: RHP Arcenio Leon (6-1, 162, from Maracaibo, Venezuela) has notched wins in his last three appearances, all in relief. Overall, Leon is 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA over seven appearances (one start) and 17 innings. He has held opponents to a .136 batting average. Two of his wins came last week against Rome. Signed by the Astros Feb. 7, 2005, Leon went 3-6 over two seasons in the Venezuelan Summer League. He spent the past two seasons with Greeneville of the Appalachian League, going 0-7, 4.67 in 2007 and 3-1, 3.33 in 2008.

Charley Taylor

Albert Cartwright

Also of interest: Legends pitching coach Charley Taylor continues to recover at his Northern Kentucky home after undergoing surgery to remove his prostate and  cancerous bladder. Taylor says he hopes to be able to visit the team at Applebee’s Park in early June. … Legends 2B Albert Cartwright suffered a broken ulna (left forearm) as a result of being hit by a pitch

Brian McCann

during Monday’s game at Augusta. He is expected to be sidelined six-to-eight weeks. Cartwright hit .316 (25-for-79) over 23 games, with three homers, 13 RBI and 16 runs. … Taking Cartwright’s roster spot is IF Andy Simunic, a 17th-round draft pick out of the University of Tennessee last June. Simunic, 23, had been in the Astros’ extended spring training camp. Last year, he hit .234 with 14 RBI and 20 runs over 53 games with Tri-City of the New York-Penn League. … Atlanta Braves C Brian McCann was scheduled to make a rehab start Wednesday against the Legends, but the Braves changed the assignment Tuesday night to High-A Myrtle Beach. McCann, who helped Rome to the 2003 SAL championship, has been on the disabled list since April 25 due to an infected left eye.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Astros Minor League Players of the Month

Legends Players of the Month for April, as announced by the parent-club Houston Astros, are Daniel Meszaros, Ebert Rosario and Albert Cartwright.

Daniel Meszaros

Ebert Rosario

Meszaros is the team’s Pitcher of the Month, converting all seven of his save opportunities without allowing an earned run. Over 7 1/3 innings, he struck out 12.

Rosario, a third baseman, is Offensive Player of the Month. He hit .375 (21-for-56) with seven doubles, eight RBI and 10 runs scored in April.

Cartwright, a second baseman, is the Defensive Player of the Month. Over 20 games and 112 chances, Cartwright compiled a .973 fielding percentage (three errors).

Several former Legends earned organizational Player of the Month honors:

SS Tommy Manzella is Defensive Player of the Month for 3A Round Rock (18 games, .964 fielding percentage).

RH Brad James is Pitcher of the Month for 2A Corpus Christi (1-0, 2.81, 16 innings).