4-run 7th does in Catfish

After jumping to an early 4-0 lead, the Columbus Catfish couldn't manage to hold on.

The Lexington Legends (Astros) chipped away at the lead, before scoring 4 runs in the 7th inning, to take a 7-4 decision over the Catfish Monday night.

The loss denied Catfish P Brian Flores his 8th win; he left the game after 5 innings with a 4-2 lead. Lexington P Luis Pardo finally got his first professional win.

The Legends had won three games in a row three times this season, but never four. They overcame a 4-0 deficit Monday, spraying 12 hits.

Pardo came in with an 0-5 record this season, 0-13 over his two-year pro career.

"It feels like about 6,000 pounds have been lifted off my shoulder," said the right-hander, who gave up four runs, three earned, over seven innings. "It just feels great. I've been throwing two years for this now."

Pardo gave up a run in the first and three in the second, then slammed the door.

"I have five pitches and I got rid of my slider and my splitter," he said. "So I went fastball, curveball, change-up. I still needed to get a feel for that in the first inning.

"I felt like mentally I messed up because I felt like I needed to make my fastball better and I really didn't need to. So when I calmed down, the third inning on, everything just started working and clicking."

Pardo gave up five hits, a walk and struck out six.

The Legends rallied with a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, then scored four in the seventh.

Game 3 of the 4-game set is Tuesday night.