Bats Can't Find Clutch Hit in 3-1 Loss
May 13, 2025 - International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - Despite plenty of opportunities throughout the night, the Louisville Bats could never get the key hit they desperately needed in a big moment, eventually falling 3-1 as the Indianapolis Indians rallied to take the lead in their final at-bat on Tuesday night at Victory Field in the opener of a six-game series.
Following a 44-minute rain delay, the Bats immediately threatened to start the game against the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, Indianapolis righty Bubba Chandler. With one out, Blake Dunn's ground ball stayed fair inside the left field line for a double, his first hit of the season with the Bats. Dunn moved to third on a wild pitch. But Chandler struck out Ivan Johnson for the second out. After Francisco Urbaez was hit by a pitch, Edwin Rios flew out to end the inning.
Again, the Bats got a runner to scoring position in the second as Levi Jordan began the frame with a double off the wall in left. Jack Rogers walked to put two on with nobody out. Chandler didn't let it go any further, striking out two of the next three hitters he faced to strand the runners.
A two-out single from Urbaez in the third was all the Bats could produce. In the fourth, a walk to Rogers and a single from P.J. Higgins put runners on first and second with one out. Chandler struck out Davis Wendzel and then hit Jacob Hurtubise with a pitch to load the bases. In his biggest jam of the night, Chandler struck out Dunn on a 99.8 mile per hour fastball to end the inning and hold the scoreless tie.
With a little less power but more control, Bats starter Aaron Wilkerson kept pace Chandler zero for zero early. He set down the first nine Indians he faced with four ground balls, two pop ups, and three fly outs. He got two more outs in the fourth to extend his streak to 11 straight batters retired. The 12th hitter Wilkerson faced turned the tide, as Nick Solak connected on a solo home run 410 feet over the left field fence to open the scoring.
In the fifth, Chandler walked Urbaez with one out before retiring the next two hitters to end the inning, and his start. He pitched five scoreless innings, allowing four hits while walking three and striking out eight to leave in line for the win. Against Chandler, the Bats went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, stranding nine runners on base.
The fifth inning was also Wilkerson's last, as he induced a fly out from Nick Yorke to strand the bases loaded. Over five innings, Wilkerson allowed one run on just one hit, the Solak home run, while walking two and striking out one in a solid start.
Ryder Ryan and Joe La Sorsa kept the score 1-0 after six, each throwing a clean frame.
Louisville finally broke through against Indianapolis reliever Dauri Moreta in the seventh. A walk to Dunn and a Johnson single put two on with one out. On a 1-2 pitch from Moreta, Urbaez was able to lift a sacrifice fly to right, bringing Dunn home with the tying run.
Alan Busenitz made quick work of the Indians with a one, two, three bottom of the seventh, maintaining the 1-1 tie. A pair of two-out singles didn't get the Bats the lead in the eighth against Kyle Nicolas (W, 1-0).
Facing Reds rehabber Sam Moll in bottom half, the Indians put a runner on third with one out. Moll then issued a pair of walks, one intentional, to load the bases with one out. Moll nearly escaped the damage, getting a ground ball to record the second out of the inning at home plate. Moll (L, 0-2) would never get the third out, as Darick Hall lined a two-run single to center, the only hit with a runner in scoring position for either team, to put the Indians up 3-1 and end Moll's outing. Yosver Zulueta got the final out of the eighth.
Isaac Mattson (S, 3) wrapped up the Indianapolis win with a scoreless ninth to earn the save. As a team, the Bats went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position while tying a season-high with 13 men left on base.
The Bats (19-20) and Indians (21-17) continue their series on Wednesday night at Victory Field. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. ET. Nick Curran will be on the call for Sports Talk 790.
International League Stories from May 13, 2025
- I-Cubs Drop First Game of Series to St. Paul 6-4 - Iowa Cubs
- Saints Win for 11th Time in Last 13 with 6-4 Victory over I-Cubs - St. Paul Saints
- Bubba Chandler Fans Eight Batters in Series Opening Victory over Bats - Indianapolis Indians
- Basallo Puts On Hitting Clinic In Loss - Norfolk Tides
- Four-Run Eighth Vaults Jacksonville by Norfolk - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Young Homers Twice But Syracuse Falls to Lehigh Valley, 7-3, on Tuesday Night - Syracuse Mets
- Bats Can't Find Clutch Hit in 3-1 Loss - Louisville Bats
- Jimenez's Four Knocks Lead Bulls to 3-1 Extra-Inning Win over Red Wing - Durham Bulls
- 'Pigs Pull Away from Mets Late for Fifth Straight Win - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- RailRiders Blanked by Toledo in Series Opener - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Toledo Dominates in 7-0 Tuesday Win at Scranton - Toledo Mud Hens
- WooSox Rally Past Bisons in Slugfest, 10-7 - Buffalo Bisons
- Mayer Caps off Six-Run Comeback with Game-Winning Homer - Worcester Red Sox
- Redbirds and Sounds Postponed Due to Wet Field Conditions - Memphis Redbirds
- May 13 Game Notes: Iowa Cubs vs. St. Paul Saints - Iowa Cubs
- On Deck at the Vic: Prospects Weekend Returns to Victory Field May 16-18 - Indianapolis Indians
- Montgomery Nets Two Hits in Knights 8-5 Win - Charlotte Knights
- SWB RailRiders Game Notes- May 13, 2025 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Charlotte Pulls Away Late to Defeat Gwinnett 8-5 - Gwinnett Stripers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
