Lexington Legends overpower Charleston to win Atlantic League division series

Lexington’s quest for a third consecutive minor league baseball championship continues. And the Legends left no doubt.

Lexington scored three runs in the first inning and seven more in the third and cruised to a 10-3 victory over the Charleston (W.Va.) Dirty Birds in the decisive Game 3 of their best-of-three Atlantic League of Professional Baseball South Division playoff series at Lexington Legends Ballpark on Wednesday night.

The Legends will face the Long Island Ducks in a best-of-five series to decide the champion of the ALPB starting Friday. Long Island defeated Southern Maryland 5-4 on Wednesday night to claim the North Division crown.

Lexington will travel to New York for the first two games of the championship series on Friday and Saturday. Game 3, plus Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will be played in Lexington Monday through Wednesday next week.

Playoff tickets are available online at LexingtonLegends.com or by calling the team box office at 859-422-7867. First pitch Monday night will be 6:31 p.m., with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.

“This is the standard for our organization,” said Andy Shea, owner and CEO of the Legends. “The Legends have always prided ourselves on success on and off the field and that’s what we’ve continued to do. It’s always special when you have the chance to win it all.”

One night after hitting three home runs to keep their series against Charleston alive, the Legends cracked five more on Wednesday night. Denis Phipps went deep in the first and third innings. Brandon Phillips, Jose Briceno and Tillman Pugh also homered in the third.

Lexington scored their 10 runs on 12 hits off five Charleston pitchers with the assistance of two Dirty Birds errors. Former Lexington Catholic High School standout and longtime major leaguer Ben Revere went 3-for-3 as the Legends’ designated hitter. Phipps, Phillips and Courtney Hawkins had two hits apiece. Phipps and Pugh drove in three runs each; Phillips and Briceno each had two RBI.

On the mound, Zac Westcott kept Charleston in check while the Legends’ offense did their thing. Westcott pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out five to pick up the victory.

Lexington is vying for its third consecutive minor league baseball championship. The Legends won South Atlantic League titles in 2018 and 2019. The 2020 SAL season was canceled because of COVID-19. The Legends moved to the ALPB ahead of the 2021 season.