Luis Cruz struck out 10 batters in 72⁄3 innings, and the Lexington Legends took the opener of a four-game series against the Delmarva Shorebirds 4-1 Thursday night at Applebee's Park.

The left-hander allowed six hits, one run and no walks as he improved his record to 5-2. The 10 strikeouts are a single-game high for a Legends pitcher this season.

The Legends took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Jose Altuve doubled, stole third base and scored on a double by Jake Goebbert.

Delmarva evened the score in the fourth, but Lexington took the lead for good in the fifth. With a man on third, Altuve got his 39th stolen base of the year, second in the South Atlantic League. Goebbert followed with another double to give the Legends a 3-1 lead. Goebbert's doubles increased his league-leading total to 33. He also drove in three runs for the second consecutive game. The Legends added a run in the eighth without a hit thanks to two Shorebirds errors.

Kirk Clark pitched a scoreless ninth for his league-leading 23rd save.