Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Greenville Drive

What: Three-game series

When: Saturday through Monday (7:05 Saturday and Monday nights, 2:05 Sunday afternoon)

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: (859) 422-7867

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (8-12, 3.85) vs. RH Stolmy Pimental (9-7, 3.76); Sunday, RH Jordan Lyles (6-11, 3.23) vs. LH Fabian Williamson (10-4, 2.30); Monday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (7-5, 3.87) vs. RH Jeremy Kehrt (1-1, 3.51).

Will Middlebrooks

Drive to watch: 3B Will Middlebrooks (6-foot-3, 197 pounds, from Wake Village, Texas) took a 12-game hitting streak into Friday’s game against Kannapolis. Overall, Middlebrooks is batting .265 with seven homers and 54 RBI over 94 games. He has scored 49 runs and stolen five bases. Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fifth round of the 2007 draft, he was 61-for-110 (.555) with five homers, 48 RBI and 22 steals in 38 games that year for Liberty-Eylau High School in Texarkana, Texas, and also went 13-0 pitching. With the Lowell Spinners last year, Middlebrooks hit .254 and led the team with 17 doubles. He also ranked second or third on the team in games (59), steals (10-for-10), hits (53) and extra-base hits (20). He led third basemen in the New York-Penn League with a fielding percentage of .927. Rated by Baseball America as having the “best infield arm” in the Red Sox system the last two years.

Russell Dixon

Legend to watch: RF Russell Dixon (6-2, 205, from Houston) has come alive at the plate, with hits in seven consecutive games until going 0-for-4 Thurday. Over those seven games, Dixon went 10-for-25 (.400), with six RBI and four runs scored. Included in that span were a two-hit game and a three-hit game — all five hits being doubles. Dixon struggled early in the season, hitting .134 over 30 games with the Legends. That earned him a demotion to extended spring training. He then moved to Tri-City of the New York-Penn League, where he hit .302 with a homer and 11 RBI over 38 games. In 12 games since rejoining the Legends, Dixon is hitting .244. Selected by the Houston Astros in the seventh round of the 2007 draft, out of Auburn University, Dixon hit .237 for the Legends last season, with three homers, 33 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 19 attempts.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Travis Driskill

Also of note: CF Jay Austin and LHP Michael Hacker have been activated from the disabled list. OF Steve Brown has been promoted to High-A Lancaster, while LHP Antonio Noguera moves to the inactive list. … The Astros have ticketed 10 Legends for Instructional League work, starting in mid-September: Austin, 2B Albert Cartwright, LHP Brad Dydalewicz, C Federico Hernandez, RHP Arcenio Leon, RHP Jordan Lyles, RHP Matt Nevarez, RHP Ross Seaton, RHP Henry Villar and SS Brandon Wikoff. Also scheduled to attend is LHP Patrick Urckfitz, who was recently promoted to High-A Lancaster. Instructors include Legends pitching coach Travis Driskill and two former Lexington staffers: Stubby Clapp (hitting coach) and Mike Smith (strength and conditioning coordinator). Pitching coach Charley Taylor, who missed this season due to bladder-cancer surgery, also plans to attend. … Mike Tauser’s most recent “Farmstros Five” players of the week is topped by Corpus Christi OF Drew Locke. The other four: Wikoff, Greeneville RHP Abraham Gonzalez and a pair of former Legends — Round Rock LHP Josh Muecke and Lancaster DH/OF/C Koby Clemens. For more details, see http://farmstros.blogspot.com/

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

When: Saturday through Tuesday (7:05 Saturday, Monday and Tuesday nights; 2:05 Sunday afternoon)

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Ross Seaton (8-8, 2.67) vs. RH Dan Houston (5-8, 3.95); Sunday, LH David Duncan (1-3, 4.40) vs. RH Jonnathan Aristil (2-6, 4.70); Monday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (7-10, 3.81) vs. TBA; Tuesday, Jordan Lyles (6-10, 3.44) vs. TBA.

Tourist to watch: LF Scott Robinson (6-foot, 185 pounds, from McDonough, Ga.) leads the Tourists in runs (71), hits (124), doubles (27), stolen bases (37), games (97) and at-abats (391). He’s batting .317 with three homers and 31 RBI. Selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 30th round of the 2006 draft, Robinson played the 2007 season for the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League, compiling a .240 average, five homers, 25 RBI and 10 steals over 50 games. Last year, with the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League, he hit .268 with six homers, 25 RBI and 15 steals over 59 games.

Antonio Noguera

Legend to watch: LHP Antonio Noguera (6-3, 194, from Caracas, Venezuela) joined the Legends last week, promoted from the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League. The southpaw has made a pair of one-inning, shutout relief appearances for the Legends, with combined totals of one hit, one walk and one striketout. In 14 games with the ValleyCats, Noguera compiled a 2-0 record and 3.62 ERA, with eight walks to 21 strikeouts over 27 1/3 innings. Signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent in September of 2004, when he was 16, Noguera also pitched for Tri-City last season. There, he was 2-8 with a 7.59 ERA over 15 games, including 13 starts. He walked 21 and struck out 24 over 53 1/3 innings. 

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Jordan Lyles

Also of note: Jordan Lyles, scheduled to start Tuesday’s game for the Legends, is on Baseball America’s “Prospect Hot Sheet” this week. … Members of the Breathitt County Junior Red Cross Club will attend Saturday’s game. When massive flooding took place in Eastern Kentucky last May, club members voted to use all available funds to help those affected by the floods. That included money for the club’s annual trip to a Legends game, which is a reward to students for their service. Officials from several agencies, including the Legends, Central Bank and

Patrick Urckfitz

Jay Austin

Trust, Aramark and the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross stepped in to fund Saturday’s trip. … Fans are invited to come early for Tuesday’s game and take part in the Family Fun Fest, just outside the ballpark gates. The Fun Fest, free to the public opens at 4 p.m. More than 20 attractions will be available, including batting and pitching cages, bungee runs, super slides, bounce houses, video arcade, a “rookie

Andy Simunic

zone” and a minor-league museum. Fans also can put their own photos on free souvenir baseball cards or on a Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine cover. … Legends players of the month for July, as selected by the coaching staff, are LH Patrick Urckfitz (Pitcher), CF Jay Austin (Offensive) and IF Andy Simunic (Defensive). Urckfitz was 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA over 10 relief appearnaces. Austin was 31-for-107 (.290) with nine extra-base hits, 10 RBI and eight steals over 26 games. Simunic has a .973 fielding percentage (five errors in 184 chances) over 51 games this season. … Former Legends picking up team Player of the Month honors in the Astros system include: Round Rock Express OF Brian Bogusevic (Offensive); Corpus Christi Hooks IF Jhon Florentino (Defensive); and Lancaster JetHawks RH Leandro Cespedes (Pitcher). … Mike Tauser’s “Farmstros Five” of the week: Gulf Coast League Astros IF Enrique Hernandez; Lyles; Lancaster OF/C Koby Clemens; Corpus Christi OF Drew Locke; and “top performer” Wilton Lopez, RHP for Corpus Christi.

Lexington Legends Brian Wabick, Brian Pellegrini and Jay Austin have earned organizational Player of the Month honors for June.

The Houston Astros player development department announced Monday the awards for each of the club’s minor-league teams, as determined by each field staff.

Brian Wabick

Wabick, a right-hander, was the Legends’ pitcher of the month. He appeared in six games, including a spot start, going 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA. Wabick gave up five earned runs of 16 1/3 innings.

Brian Pellegrini

Pellegrini, who has seen action at DH, left field and mostly first base, earned his second straight offensive player of the month award. Pellegrini hit .437 (38-for-87) in June, with nine homers and 26 RBI over 24 games.

Jay Austin

Austin, a center fielder, is the Defensive Player of the Month. He has a season fielding percentage of .985 (one error, 130 total chances).

Other players of month in the Astros organization include former Legends Bud Norris and J.R. Towles of Triple-A Round Rock, Polin Trinidad and Wladimir Sutil of Double-A Corpus Christi, and Fernando Abad of High-A Lancaster.

Bud Norris

J.R. Towles

RHP Norris made four starts in June, going 1-1 with a 0.96 ERA over 28 innings. He leads the Pacific Coast League in ERA (2.52) and strikeouts (92).

Towles, a catcher, took offensive honors with a .441 on-base percentage — 11-for-43 (.256) with 12 walks.

Polin Trinidad

Wladimir Sutil

LHP Trinidad was 3-2 with a 0.72 ERA in June, totaling 37 1/3 innings. With an overall record of 7-5 with one save and a 2.94 ERA over 13 games, Trinidad has been promoted to Round Rock.

Sutil, an infielder, snagged offensive honors with the Hooks by hitting .312 (34-for-109) with 16 runs, nine RBI and eight doubles.

Fernando Abad

LHP Abad worked seven games for the JetHawks, going 1-0 with a save and 1.06 ERA over 17 innings.

Other players recognized include Round Rock OF Yordanny Ramirez, Corpus Christi IF Drew Meyer and Lancaster OF J.B. Shuck (defense), and Lancaster OF Jon Gaston (offense). Recognized by the rookie-level Dominican Summer League Astros: RHP Leonardo Alayon, OF Ricardo Heredia (offense) and IF Hector Rodriguez (defense).

The Legends call on their closer, Patrick Urckfitz, to pitch the ninth inning. Urckfitz retires the first two batters, but Mike McCormick singles to center. That brings Jeremy Beckham to the plate with the potential tying run. Urckfitz closes it out, though, getting Beckham to ground out to short. FINAL SCORE: LEGENDS 5, HOT RODS 3.

* * * * * * *

In the eighth inning, Ashton Mowdy sets down Bowling Green 1-2-3. Hot Rods reliever Josh Satow does likewise to Lexington. Going to the ninth inning: Legends 5, Hot Rods 3.

* * * * * * *

Jordan Lyles

Bowling Green scores a pair of runs in the seventh inning. Mike McCormick draws a one-out walks, then scores on Jeremy Beckham’s triple to center. That knocks out Legends right-hander Jordan Lyles, who is replaced by Ashton Mowdy. Robi Estrada’s slow grounder to short scores Beckham. Anthony Scelfo takes a called third strike. Lyles’ final line: 6.1 innings, 3 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts. With the Legends coming to bat, the Hot Rods dip into the bullpen and call on left-hander Josh Satow. He retires the Legends in order, striking out two. Through seven innings: Legends 5, Hot Rods 3.

* * * * * * *

In the sixth inning, the Hot Rods get a leadoff double from Tim Beckham. He gets to third on a groundout, but is stranded as third baseman Ebert Rosario makes an over-the-shoulder catch of a foul fly and then throws out John Mollicone on a grounder. The Legends get a leadoff single by Kyle Miller and a bunt single by Jorge De Leon. Eric Suttle bunts the runners to second and third. With the infield in, Jay Austin grounds to second baseman, who throws to catcher Jake Jeffries in time to cut down Miller. Austin steals second, and Michael Diaz walks on a full count to load the bases for cleanup hitter Brian Pellegrini. After falling behind in the count 1-2, Pellegrini beat out an infield single to Tim Beckham, in the hole at shortstop. Not only does De Leon score, so does Austin, all the way from second. The inning ends on Ebert Rosario’s fly to right. At the end of six innings: Legends 5, Hot Rods 1. 

* * * * * * *

Jordan Lyles retired Bowling Green in order in the fifth inning. The Hot Rods changed pitchers to open the bottom of the inning, bringing in left-hander Michael Jarman. With one out, Brian Pellegrini walked on four pitches. One out later, Pellegrini advanced on a Jarman balk. He scored from second when second baseman Robi Estrada lost Steve Brown’s high fly against a dark background of storm clouds. Going to the sixth: Legends 3, Hot Rods 1.

* * * * * * *

The Legends make a defensive change to open the fourth inning, Michael Diaz taking over from Albert Cartwright at second base. Cartwright was playing in his fourth game since coming off the disabled list (broken bone in forearm). His first three games came as DH. Kyeong Kang gets the Hot Rods in gear with a leadoff double. A wild pitch puts him on third with nobody out. After John Mollicone pops out to Diaz, Kang scores on Jason Tweedy’s groundout. In the bottom of the inning, the Legends get a two-out walk by Eric Suttle, but nothing else. After four innings: Legends 2, Hot Rods 1.

* * * * * * *

Legends right-hander Jordan Lyles retires the Hot Rods in order in the third inning, thanks to an outstanding play by Albert Cartwright. The second baseman ranged far towards the right-field line to glove Jake Jeffries’ grounder and then made the throw to first. In the bottom half of the inning, Cartwright drew a two-out walk and stole second base. Brian Pellegrini lined a single off the glove of 1B John Mollicone. Mollicone’s leap prevented the ball from going through to the outfield and held Austin to a one-base advance. But Ebert Rosario followed with a run-scoring single through the right side, Pellegrini stopping at second. Steve Brown walked, loading the basees. Federico Hernandez was retired on a comebacker to pitcher Nick Barnese. After three innings: Legends 2, Hot Rods 0.

* * * * * * *

Federico Hernandez

Kyle Miller

Lexington draws first blood in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead. Bowling Green wasted a two-out single by Jeremy Beckham. The Legends got back-to-back, opposite-field, two-out doubles by Federico Hernandez and Kyle Miller. Hernandez, batting lefty, put his hit just inside the left-field line. Miller, a righty, hit one over the head of right-fielder Kyeong Kang. After two innings: Legends 1, Hot Rods 0.

* * * * * * *

Under a light drizzle, the game began at 7:46 p.m. — a rain delay of 41 minutes.

Neither team scored in the first. Bowling Green got a one-out single from Tim Beckham, plus a walk to Jake Jeffries. But Steve Brown made a tough running catch of Kyeong Kang’s foul fly down the left-field line and John Mollicone bounced out to pitcher Jordan Lyles. The Legends got a one-out double from Jay Austin. One out later, a wild pitch moved Austin to third. But Brian Pellegrini bounced back to pitcher Nick Barnese.

* * * * * * *

Starting lineups for Tuesday’s game:

Bowling Green — Anthony Scelfo, cf; Tim Beckham, ss; Jake Jeffries, c; Kyeong Kang, rf; John Mollicone, 1b; Jason Tweedy, lf; Mike McCormick, dh; Jeremy Beckham, 3b; Robi Estrada, 2b. Pitching: RH Nick Barnese.

Lexington — Eric Suttle, rf; Jay Austin, cf; Albert Cartwright, 2b; Brian Pellegrini, 1b; Ebert Rosario, 3b; Steve Brown, lf; Federico Hernandez, c; Kyle Miller, dh; Jorge De Leon, ss. Pitching: RH Jordan Lyles.

Umpires — Erik Hill, plate; Chris Graham, field.

* * * * * * *

The tarp has been pulled at Applebee’s Park. The rain-delayed start between the Lexington Legends and Bowling Green Hot Rods now is estimated to be 7:40 p.m.

* * * * * * *

Of course it’s raining at Applebee’s Park.

With a schedule like this, it figures. One has to wonder what, if anything, was going through the mind(s) of the schedule-maker(s) when the Lexington Legends were assigned to:

* Wrap up a series at Asheville, N.C., Monday night;

* Open a three-game series Tuesday at Lexington (vs. Bowling Green);

* Then head to Greenville, S.C., to open a three-game series Friday.

The homestand includes a 12:05 p.m. start. But, no, it’s not Thursday, when a day game would give the team an early getaway. The early game is scheduled Wednesday.

Tuesday is Latino Night at the park, as well as Quarter Hot Dog Night.

This could help boost program sales

Jose Trinidad

Kirkland Rivers

Pedro Gonzalez

Meanwhile, the Legends made several roster changes Tuesday.

* Jose Trinidad has been activated from the disabled list, with LHP Kirkland Rivers moving to the inactive list.

* C Reinaldo Pestana has

Andy Simunic

Marques Williams

been added to the roster, coming from extended spring training. He replaces C Pedro Gonzales, who has been assigned to Tri-City of the New York-Penn League.

* IF/OF Andy Simunic comes off the inactive list, with OF Marques Williams going on the disabled list.

Trinidad has not pitched since May 20 due to a shoulder strain. He had appeared in 12 games, all in relief, compiling an 0-3 record with one save and an ERA of 4.05. Over 20 innings, Trinidad gave up nine earned runs on 20 hits and 12 walks, striking out 15.

Rivers made his first appearance for the Legends on May 24, having started the season in extended spring training. Six relief outings spanning 7 1/3 innings have Kirkland with no decisions or saves, one hold and a 2.45 ERA. He has struck out seven and walked five.

Pestana, 22, is a 6-foot-1, 180-pounder from Guatire Miranda, Venezuela, signed by the Astros in March 2004.

He spent two seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros, 2006 and part of 2007 with Greeneville of the Appalachian League, and part of 2007 and all of 2008 with Tri-City. For his career, Pestana is 88-for-434 (.203) with three homers, 46 RBI and 44 runs over 147 games.

Gonzalez spent the first week and a half of the season with High-A Lancaster before joining the Legends on April 20. He was used sparingly, batting .114 with four RBI over 17 games.

Simunic was placed on the inactive list when 2B Albert Cartwright was activated from the DL last week. Simunic is batting .229.

Williams, batting .317 over 16 games, has not played since June 7. He is sidelined due to a broken left hand, the result of a slide at second base.

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Three-game series

When: Saturday through Monday (7:05 Saturday and Monday nights; 2:05 Sunday)

Where: McCormick Field, Asheville, N.C.

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (3-1, 2.05) vs. RH Stephen Dodson (1-0, 2.53); Sunday, RH Robert Bono (5-3, 2.31) vs. RH Juan Nicasio (1-0, 0.55); Monday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (3-6, 3.08) vs. RH Dan Houston (2-4, 4.39).

Jordan Pacheco

Tourist to watch: C Jordan Pacheco (6-foot-1, 195 pounds, from Albuquerque, N.M.) is all over Asheville’s offensive board. He shares the team lead in walks (16), is second in batting average (.328), home runs (5), RBI (28) and OPS (.864), third in hits (65), triples (2), total bases (95), slugging percentage (.480) and on-base percentage (.385), fourth in runs (27) and doubles (11), and fifth in stolen bases (7) over 52 games. Selected by the Colorado Rockies in the ninth round of the 2007 draft, out of the University of New Mexico, split his first season between Casper of the Pioneer League and Tri-City of the Northern League, hitting .286 over 63 games. Last season, at Tri-City, he hit .280 with a homer and 35 RBI over 54 games. Pacheco started this season with a bang, hitting. 403 over 19 games in April. He fell off to .297 over 26 games in May and is hitting .240 in his first seven games of June.

Jay Austin

Legend to watch: CF Jay Austin (5-11, 170, from Atlanta) returned to action in Friday’s doubleheader at Bowling Green. He went on the disabled list (concussion) after colliding with shortstop Jorge De Leon while pursuing a first-inning fly on May 30. Now 18, Austin was selected by the Houston Astros in the second round (56th overall) of last year’s draft, out of North Atlanta High School. According to Baseball America’s pre-season ratings, Austin was the 10th-best prospect, the best athlete and fastest baserunner in the Astros system. After batting .191 in April, he improved to .247 in May. In the eight games prior to being injured, Austin hit safely in seven games, at a .324 clip (11-for-34). Friday, he started the second game of a doubleheader, going 2-for-4 and scoring once in a 6-1 victory. Overall, Austin is hitting .231 with 10 RBI and 22 runs. He leads the Legends with eight stolen bases.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

The Lexington Legends lost an outfielder and gained another Thursday.

Brandon Barnes was promoted to High-A Lancaster of the California League.

The Legends filled his roster spot by activating Jay Austin from the disabled list.

Brandon Barnes

Barnes, 23, leads the Legends in doubles (11), triples (3) and RBI (25), and shares the team lead for runs (23), homers (5) and total bases (84). He’s second on the club with 52 hits over 57 games.

Barnes hit safely in six of his last eight games with Lexington, going 10-for-28, to raise his batting average from .249 to .264. During that stretch, he had a double, triple, two homers, five runs and seven RBI.

Selected by the Astros out of Cypress College in the sixth round of the 2005 draft, Barnes is in his fifth minor-league season. He played 87 games for the Legends in 2008, hitting .241 with two homers and 19 RBI.

Austin, 18, is batting .224 with10 RBI and eight stolen bases over 44 games with the Legends.

Jay Austin

He went on the disabled list after suffering a concussion May 30, when he collided in the first inning with shortstop Jorge De Leon. In the eight games prior to his injury, Austin hit safely in seven contests, going 11-for-34 (.324).

The Astros drafted Austin in the second round (56th overall) last year, out of North Atlanta High School. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated him as the 10th-best prospect in Houston’s system, as well as the Astros’ best athlete and fastest baserunner.

The Legends open a two-game series Thursday night at Bowling Green, then head to Asheville for a three-game series. The Legends return to Applebee’s Park on Tuesday, June 16, to meet the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

* Former Legends Chris Johnson, now with 3A Round Rock, and Kobe Clemens, with Lancaster, are among Mike Tauser’s “Farmstros Five” for the week of June 3-9. You can check out his blog at http://farmstros.blogspot.com.