The way things have been going lately for the Menlo Park Legends, one big inning is all it takes for them to win a ballgame. That was the case on Thursday against the Pacific Union Financial Capitalists, as the Legends scored seven times in the bottom of the fifth en route to a 10-4 victory.
Menlo Park sent 13 hitters to the plate in the decisive frame and had plenty of offensive contributors up and down the lineup. With the win, the Legends improve their record to 9-2 while the Caps fall to 2-3.
Nick Brooks opened the scoring with a home run, his second in as many days, in the fourth after the Caps took a 2-0 lead.
In the fifth, the Legends opened with three consecutive singles, two walks and two hit batters. Brooks added a sacrifice fly, Justin Jacobs reached on an infield single that scored a run, and Sean Watkins scored from third on a wild pitch.
Jacobs drove in the final two runs, in the sixth, with a triple to the gap in left-center.
Jacobs finished the day 3-for-4 and three RBI. The Legends only needed eight hits in the game, but they took advantage of 10 free passes they received on the bases.
Jonathan Hernandez got the start for the Legends and aside from the two runs he allowed in the top of the second, he was sharp all day.
He lasted five innings and picked up the win, allowed four hits, two runs, walked one, and struck out seven.
Hernandez retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced before giving way to Sheldon McClelland, who pitched the next three innings.
Jonathan’s younger brother and fellow Legend, Alexander Hernandez, got the call for the first time this summer and pitched the final inning of the win.
Stanford commit Daniel Bakst homered and Sacred Heart Prep grad Andrew Daschbach drove in a run for the Caps.
The Legends will be on the road for the next week, and the first three games are in Santa Barbara against the Foresters. The three-game series will begin on Friday at 5 p.m., and all three games will be broadcast live on the Legends Radio Network.
By Brian Brownfield/MP Legends
By Brian Brownfield/MP Legends
By Brian Brownfield/MP Legends