IL Louisville Bats

Bats Blast Four Home Runs in 9-5 Win over Nashville

Published on July 24, 2022 under International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release


LOUISVILLE, KY- The Louisville Bats (38-54) secured their second straight series win at home over the Nashville Sounds (55-37) on Sunday afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field.

For the third straight game, the Nashville offense plated a run in the top of the first inning when designated hitter Jon Singleton singled to left, driving home center fielder Garrett Whitley from third.

The early one run lead did not last long, as Louisville infielder Jose Barrero jumped on the first pitch in the home half of the first, lofting a moonshot home run that bounced off the top of the left field wall and over, evening the score at 1-1.

Each team was held scoreless into the fourth inning, until Aristides Aquino launched a towering home run that looked nearly identical to Barrero's moonshot in the first. The round-tripper was Aquino's sixth of the season for Louisville, and the second of his current rehab stint that began on July 13.

After Colin Moran and Ronnie Dawson each singled following the Aquino homer, Isaiah Gilliam got all of an 0-1 pitch, tallying his first career Triple-A home run and making history in the process. The three-run blast left the bat at a scorching 112 MPH and traveled 478 feet, good for the 6th longest home run in Louisville Slugger Field history.

The Sounds were quick to answer the big inning with a three-run homer of their own in the next half inning, off the bat of Keston Hiura, narrowing the Louisville lead to 5-4.

The scoring seesaw continued in the bottom of the fifth, when Ronnie Dawson came to the plate in a two-out, bases loaded situation. Dawson connected with the fourth Bats home run of the game, tying the season high by the team in a single game. The grand slam was the second by Louisville on the season, with the first coming from Alejo Lopez on June 26 vs. Iowa.

The Sounds scratched one more run in the seventh, thanks to a solo home run from Jon Singleton. They also threatened in the eighth by loading the bases, but Bats' closer Fernando Cruz entered the game and induced a ground ball to end the inning on one pitch.

Cruz struck out the side in the ninth inning to complete his four-out, league-leading 16th save of the season, and his fifth save in which he worked more than one inning.

Following their off day tomorrow, the Louisville Bats will begin their six game series with the Columbus Clippers (Triple-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians) on Tuesday night (July 26) with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Right-hander T.J. Zeuch (0-5, 8.90) will get the ball for the Bats with the Clippers' starter yet to be named.

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International League Stories from July 24, 2022


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