IL1 Louisville Bats

Back and Forth Game Ends in the 13th, Bats Win 7-6

Published on July 19, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


Louisville, KY - In the second-straight extra-inning game, the Bats won the last game of the series against the Durham Bulls Sunday night at Louisville Slugger Field. The game seemed more like a boxing match than a baseball game with the amount of counterpunches each team was able to manufacture. The Bats managed to split the series with the Bulls 2-2. There were 9,421 fans in attendance on a cool evening in July.

Durham struck first in the second inning with a single by Chris Richard and a walk by Ray Sadler. After a double steal put runners on second and third, John Jaso reached on a groundball to second baseman Chris Valaika that was misplayed, allowing Richard to score. Elliott Johnson then singled to center scoring Sadler and putting the Bulls up 2-0.

The Bats countered with their own attack in the bottom half of the inning. Wes Bankston led off with a single to short, followed by a walk by Danny Dorn. Chris Valaika then hit a 2-run double to right-center tying the game. After walks by Drew Stubbs and Alex Gonzalez loaded the bases, the Bats took advantage of Bulls starter Matt DeSalvo with another walk by Chris Heisey driving in a run and taking the lead.

The lead did not last long however as the Bulls added runs in the fourth and fifth. Ray Sadler hit a solo shot to left in the fourth to tie the game. They took the lead in the fifth with an RBI triple by Reid Brignac.

As soon as the Bats were down, they powered right back with a 2-run blast from Kevin Barker, the Bats' All-Time Home Run Leader, which put Louisville up 5-4.

Durham was determined not to give up though as Chris Richard hit his fifth home run against the Bats this season in the top of the eighth inning, tying the game at 5-5.

In the bottom half of the eighth, Eric Eymann led off with a walk, and was then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Corky Miller. Drew Stubbs then singled putting runners on the corner with one out. Trying desperately not to take the second straight game into extra innings, Luis Bolivar hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Eymann from third. Bolivar's RBI gave the Bats the 6-5 lead.

Once again, the Bulls responded with a lead-off single by Elliott Johnson, who advanced to second on an error by right-fielder Chris Heisey. Ray Olmedo followed with a single to right scoring Johnson and tying the game. After a called third strike on Matt Joyce and failure to drive in the winning run, he was ejected from the game for arguing with home plate umpire Art Thigpen.

So, in back-to-back games the patrons at Louisville Slugger Field received some free baseball. The last time they had back-to-back extra inning games was August of last year.

After the ninth, there wasn't any damage done until the thirteenth inning. After a walk by Bankston and wild pitch, the Bats had a runner in scoring position. Dorn then hit an infield single to first baseman Richard. Bankston rounded third and headed home as the throw from Richard came to the plate. Catcher John Jaso failed to handle the throw as he collided with Bankston, and the Bats scored the winning run.

Due to the lack of rested arms, infielders Michael Griffin and Luis Bolivar came on to pitch in the top of the 12th and 13th innings. It was their first career professional pitching appearances.

Bolivar (1-0) got the win, the first of his career. He went one inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.

Bats starter Kip Wells pitched effectively in his first career start in the Bats uniform. He went four-and-two-thirds innings giving up four runs on six hits, while walking three and striking out four.

Louisville was led offensively by Barker and Valaika, who both had two RBI's apiece. Heisey and Bolivar also had RBI's for the Bats. Stubbs, Dorn, and Valaika had multi-hit games.

The Bats begin a new home series Monday evening at 7:05pm. against the Buffalo Bisons. Probable starters are RHP Justin Lehr (11-3, 3.51) for the Bats and RHP Lance Broadway (2-5, 5.68) for the Bisons.

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International League Stories from July 19, 2009


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