
6-2 Victory Seals Winning Road Trip for Bats
May 21, 2013 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga - The Louisville Bats closed out their road trip with bang on Tuesday night at Coolray Field, defeating the Gwinnett Braves 6-2 after Mike Hessman's eighth-inning home run broken open a tight, one-run game.
Bats' starting pitcher Chad Reineke (4-3, 3.88) went seven strong innings, and was aided by several sparkling defensive plays to help push the team's record to an even .500 for the season (23-23). With the victory, Louisville ended their eight-game road swing with a 5-3 record, the second consecutive road trip they have ended with a winning mark.
After Gwinnett drew first blood in the opening frame, Louisville got its offense going in the third inning when Billy Hamilton and Henry Rodriguez led off by getting on base to start what would become a go-ahead, three-run inning. Felix Perez then cleared the bases with a triple into the right field corner, pushing his team-leading RBI total to 28. Perez also joined Hamilton as the only Louisville players with multiple triples thus far in 2013.
Later in the inning, Perez came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Josh Fellhauer, and the 3-1 cushion was enough wiggle room for Reineke. The right-hander allowed just a pair of runs, six hits, and a walk in his seven innings of work, while recording three punch outs. The outing matched Reineke's longest of the season, which also came against the Braves in late April at Louisville Slugger Field.
With the tying run on base in the sixth and Louisville clinging to a 3-2 lead, Bats' third baseman Neftali Soto made a huge defensive play, snagging a hard-hit line drive and starting an inning-ending double play that kept Reineke and the Bats on top.
Soto also came around to score on Hessman's clutch home run in the eighth off reliever Ryan Buchter, a monster shot to left that pushed the lead to three. The home run, Hessman's team-leading ninth, was part of a three-hit night for the veteran first baseman, increasing his average in the month of May to .340. He complemented his stellar night at the plate with a pair of excellent defensive plays, as well.
Corky Miller also got in on the late-inning add-on, smacking a solo home run in the ninth to give the game its final outcome. It was Miller's third home run of the season, and second of the road trip.
Billy Hamilton also reached base twice and stole his league-leading 23rd base.
Kevin Whelan and Johan Pino worked the eighth and ninth innings, respectively for the Bats, with neither surrendering a hit.
Braves starting pitcher Omar Poveda (3-3, 2.52) allowed just four hits in seven innings, but the three-run third inning, along with three walks, proved costly in defeat.
Louisville will have the day off on Wednesday before kicking off an eight-game home stand on Thursday at Louisville Slugger Field against the Pawtucket Red Sox at 6:35PM. LHP Tony Cingrani (1-0, 0.00) will make his first start for the Bats since being sent down from Cincinnati last week. In three previous starts with Louisville, he has 26 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. Pawtucket will counter with RHP Alfredo Aceves (2-1, 3.13).
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