Bats Bounce Back With 5-2 Victory
Published on June 19, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
DURHAM, N.C. - Neftali Soto's go-ahead home run in the sixth inning and a solid starting pitching performance from Yohan Pino (2-3, 2.32) propelled the Louisville Bats to a 5-2 victory over the Durham Bulls in a rain delayed game on Tuesday night, giving the team their sixth win in their past seven games.
After sweeping Norfolk to begin this eight-game road trip, the Bats moved to 5-1 on the current swing once a one-hour, 46-minute rain delay passed, improving their overall record to .500 (36-36) in a game that marked the halfway point of the 2013 campaign. The comeback victory came a day after Durham ended the Bats five-game winning streak by handing Louisville their worst loss of the season, a 16-4 defeat in the series opener.
With the game knotted at two in the sixth, Soto sent his eighth home run of the year into the seats in left field, giving Louisville a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The pivotal homer was one of three hits for Soto, the fourth time this season he has enjoyed a three-hit game. Soto also went yard against Durham exactly one week ago when he blasted a grand slam in an 8-5 Bats victory at Louisville Slugger Field.
After spotting Durham two runs in the opening frame, Pino allowed just one hit over the next five innings, working into the seventh before being lifted for Zach Duke. Pino struck out four over 6.2 innings, allowing seven hits and a pair of walks in just his third start of the season. The right-hander is typically one of the Bats late-inning relievers, and currently leads the team with six saves.
Durham looked like they were going to pick up tonight where they left off yesterday, putting up two runs in the opening inning one night after the 16-run onslaught. Pino settled down quickly after the rocky opening frame, however, retiring nine straight before Louisville evened the score in the fourth.
After a Mike Hessman walk, Louisville got three straight singles off Bulls starter Mike Montgomery (3-1, 4.50) to tie it at two. Denis Phipps and Nevin Ashley plated the two runs, each earning an RBI via infield singles to third.
Louisville extended their lead to three shortly after Soto's homer in the sixth when Ashley doubled and scored on a Jason Donald RBI single. Ashley, who played for the Bulls last season, reached base three times on the night and is hitting .346 in the month of June.
The newly signed Duke's sterling relief work helped the Bats maintain their three run lead, as the left-hander entered with the bases loaded after Pino was chased. In his third appearance with Louisville, he induced a fly out to end that threat, and then worked a flawless eighth and ninth to earn his second save.
Louisville will begin the second half of their season on Wednesday night against Durham at 7:05 eastern time. Game three of the series will feature RHP Daniel Corcino (3-9, 7.49) on the mound for Louisville against a yet to be named Bulls starter.
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