South Atlantic League baseball
Lexington Legends
at Greenville Drive
What: Four-game series
When: Friday through Monday (7:05 Friday, Saturday and Monday nights, 4:05 Sunday afternoon)
Where: Fluor Field (Greenville, S.C.).
Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Boston Red Sox (Drive)
Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, LH Crawford Simmons (2-3, 3.29) vs. RH Luis Diaz (7-4, 2.22); Saturday, RH Greg Billo (1-2, 1.42) vs. TBA; Sunday, RH Matt Murray (1-3, 2.43) vs. TBA; Monday, RH Miguel Almonte (4-8, 3.22) vs. TBA.
Ramon Torres
Legend to watch: 2B/SS Ramon Torres (5-foot-10, 155 pounds, age 20, bats both, throws right, from Moncion, Dominican Republic) is 6-for-29 since being promoted to the Legends from Burlington of the Appalachian League. In 42 games with Burlington, Torres hit .278 with three homers, 20 RBI, 24 runs and five stolen bases. Three of his six hits with the Legends have been doubles. Signed by the Royals as a non-drafted free agent July 13, 2009, Torres spent two years with the Dominican Summer League Royals, batting .229 in 2010 and .260 in 2011. He was the team’s Player of the Year in 2011, when he also had two homers, 24 RBI and 35 runs. Last year, over 49 games in the Arizona League, Torres batted .316 with three homers, with 27 RBI, 47 runs and 17 stolen bases.
Mario Martinez
Drive to watch: 3B Mario Martinez (6-3, 220, 23, bats and throws right, from Barquisemeto, Venezuela) is batting .303 with eight homers, 45 RBI and 28 runs over 58 games with the Drive. He came to Greenville from West Michigan, where he hit .234 with four homers, 22 RBI and 13 runs over the first 35 games of this season. Originally signed by the Mariners as a non-drafted free agent July 3, 2006, he spent 2007 with the Arizona League Mariners (.281-1-26), 2008 with Pulaski of the Appalachian League (.319-5-32), 2009 with teams in the Northwest and Midwest Leagues (combined .267-5-57), 2010 with Clinton of the Midwest League (.239-12-66), 2011 with High Desert of the California League (.278-11-56) and last year with High Desert (.283-21-80). He earned all-star honors in 2008 and 2011.
Radio: WLXG-AM 1300
