The difference between them on Monday night as the teams opened their first-round playoff series was ... oh, about four feet.

That’s how far Lexington left fielder Chase Younts was from the fence when he gathered in Kannapolis pinch-hitter Chris ‘‘Thumper’’ Williams’ long drive to end the ballgame. Kannapolis had a runner on base, so one more bowl of Wheaties on Williams’ breakfast table might have turned a 3-1 Kannapolis loss into an extra-inning extravaganza.

‘‘I was blowing and blowing trying to help it get out,’’ said Kannapolis coach Joe Hubbard of Williams’ last-gasp smash. ‘‘But nothing seemed to carry tonight.’’

There was some carrying done Monday, however, and it was done by Lexington’s ace right-hander Brandon Russell, who just signed with Belmont Abbey. Russell put his teammates on his shoulders. He pitched a complete Legion game without walking a batter, something which happens about as often as Mia Hamm misses an open net.

Russell scattered six hits, baffling Kannapolis hitters with a sweeping curve ball, a nifty changeup and a decent fastball that consistently nipped the outside corner.

Russell kept Lexington assistant Matt Griffin, who was calling the shots in the absence of suspended head coach Tom McCarthy, on the edge of his dugout seat. But every time Russell needed a big pitch, he came through.

‘‘Russell pitched his butt off,’’ said Griffin, both colorfully and succinctly. ‘‘He could get ahead (in the count) with any of his three pitches. Kannapolis can hit, but he wouldn’t let them get that big one. He kept getting out of jams.’’

Like when Russell fanned Lin Goodman with runners at second and third to end the third inning. Or when he made Kannapolis squander Dana Hinson’s leadoff double in the seventh by getting Aaron Honeycutt on strikes and inducing lefty-swinging Jason Sarvis, the hitter he feared most, to hit a weak popup.

Kannapolis’ only run came in the sixth when Chad ‘‘Wally’’ Tuttle belted an RBI double to score Goodman. But Russell left Tuttle stranded, too – mowing down Bobby Helms, Zack Gurley and Jesus Adames in order.

‘‘Russell was just great,’’ praised Hubbard. ‘‘The best I’ve seen him.’’

Kannapolis pitchers Michael Hunter and Justin Bonds weren’t bad themselves, but Lexington played effective ‘‘little ball’’ to nick Hunter for three runs.

In the third inning, Allen Walters reached on an infield hit, stole second and went to third on an error. Younts got him home with a one-out grounder with the infield back for a 1-0 lead.

In the fourth, back-to-back doubles by Jason Phillips and Chris Stone plated a run. Patrick Truluck’s sacrifice fly made it 3-0.

Bonds relieved Hunter with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh, and retired Scott Wilson to escape a mess. That gave Kannapolis hope for a late rally.

But the eighth was sheer frustration for the home team. Hubbard watched helplessly as deep drives by both Goodman and Tuttle settled to earth just shy of Veterans Field’s inviting right-field porch.

In the ninth, Gurley reached to give Williams one last chance. But he was a yard or so from going ‘‘yard’’ and becoming a hero.

‘‘I can’t describe how good it is to go on the road and sort of steal one,’’ said Griffin. ‘‘This was huge. In a short (best three-of-five) series, the first game is the biggest one.’’

‘‘This was a big night,’’ agreed Hubbard. ‘‘We needed it; we didn’t get it. And we know we can’t get down 2-0 on Tuesday.’’