Bats Down IronPigs, 8-5
June 8, 2009 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
Louisville, KY - The Louisville Bats won their seventh game out of their last eight by knocking off the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 8-5 tonight in front of 6,748 fans at Louisville Slugger Field. The Bats pounded out 13 hits and for the second straight night all nine spots in the lineup had a hit.
The IronPigs jumped in front early scoring in the top of the first inning. Jason Ellison led off the game with a walk and Jason Donald then followed with a single. Andy Tracy pulled a single into right field allowing Ellison to come around to score and give the Pigs a 1-0 lead.
The Bats responded in the home half of the first inning by putting two runs on the board. Drew Sutton got things started with a two-out single and then Kevin Barker followed with his seventh home run of the season, a 418 ft. blast to straight away center, propelling the Bats to a 2-1 lead. Barker finished 2-4 with a HR and three RBI's.
Louisville played add-on in the fourth with three straight one-out hits. Wes Bankston lined a double to right and was singled home by Michael Griffin. Griffin then scored on Danny Dorn's RBI-double to the gap in right-center field. Dorn's double extended his hitting streak to a season high eight games.
An inning later the Bats put up their third two-run inning of the night. Norris Hopper led off with a walk and then stole his tenth base of the season to move to second. Drew Stubbs then singled to center to score Hopper, but was thrown out trying to reach second on the throw home. Sutton re-started the Bats threat by drawing a walk and was knocked home by Bankston's second double of the game. Bankston finished the game 3-4 with two doubles and a RBI.
The IronPigs threatened in the top of the seventh loading the bases with one out. Pedro Viola then came on to relieve Adam Pettyjohn and forced the next two hitters to pop out, leaving the bases full of Pigs and protecting the two-run lead.
Louisville added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Barker singled home Sutton in the seventh and Hopper hit a sacrifice fly to score Castillo in the eighth.
Bats' starter Justin Lehr (7-2, 4.22) picked up the win in his third start since coming to the team from Lehigh Valley. The win put Lehr in a tie for the IL league lead. He went 5.2 innings giving up four runs, eight hits, walking one, and striking out five. Josh Roenicke worked the ninth inning for his ninth save in eleven chances.
Lehigh Valley starter Jake Woods (3-1, 3.75) took the loss only lasting four innings. He gave up four runs, on six hits and three strikeouts.
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