Juan Francisco; Photo by mwlguide via Flickr

Highlights from Thursday Kentucky MiLB action:

• Third baseman Juan Francisco blasted his second home run of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the Louisville Bats to an 8-7 win over Lehigh Valley. Francisco finished the game 2-4 with two home runs, five RBI and two runs scored. One-time Madisonville resident Matt Klinker surrendered seven runs in four innings for the Bats.
• Former EKU infielder and Robards native Neil Sellers was 0-3 with one RBI in his return to Kentucky for Lehigh Valley.
• The Lexington Legends held off a late Hickory Crawdads rally to earn a 3-2 win Thursday. Legends outfielder J. D. Martinez was 2-3 with a walk and a run scored in what turned out to be his last game with Lexington. Following the win Martinez was promoted by the Astros to AA Corpus Christi. Martinez led the South Atlantic League in eight offensive categories at the time of his promotion.
• Right-handed pitcher Kirby Yates was almost unhittable for seven innings to lead the Bowling Green Hot Rods to a 7-0 blowout win over Burlington. Yates surrendered just two hits in seven innings and struck out while walking just two batters. Left fielder Cody Rogers was 2-3 with a home run, one RBI and two runs scored.
• Former UK catcher Marcus Nidiffer‘s three-game home run streak ended for rookie-level Greeneville, but he went 2-4 with a double and run scored Thursday to extend his hitting streak to seven games. He’s 13-31 (.419) with three home runs, nine runs scored and five RBI during the streak.
• Former UofL left-handed starting pitcher Justin Marks continued his season turnaround for low A Cane County with his third win of the season after pitching six shutout innings Thursday. Marks struck out 10 and walked just two and is now 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA in three July starts but is just 3-10 with a 4.97 ERA on the season.
• Former WKU third baseman Wade Gaynor was 2-3 with three runs scored and a walk for low A West Michigan.
• Former NKU outfielder Jake Shaffer was 2-4 with a double and three RBI for high A High Desert and has a six-game hitting streak. Shaffer is batting .364 in July.
• Elizabethtown native Nathan Adcock took a no decision after surrendering five runs in four innings for high A Bradenton.