IL1 Louisville Bats

Bats Come up Short in Comeback Attempt, Losing 7-6

Published on August 18, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Louisville Bats (53-69) fell just short in their comeback effort, losing to the Charlotte Knights (56-66) on Saturday night at BB&T Ballpark by a 7-6 score.

After a 71-minute rain delay, the Bats fell behind in the middle of the game, before making a ferocious comeback late before ultimately losing a one-run contest.

Louisville starting pitcher Keury Mella went 4.0 innings, giving up one earned run on three hits, walking none and striking out three on 66 pitches (40 strikes). It was the right-hander's first start with Louisville since July 22, after being recalled to Cincinnati on July 27.

Bats shortstop Blake Trahan tied up the game with a solo home run in the top of the fifth, his second homer this season. Trahan went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI in the game, his first four-hit game this season. The fifth inning blast was Louisville's 100th as a ball club this season, the first time the Bats have hit at least 100 homers in a season since 2012.

The Knights took control of the game after that, putting up a three-spot in the fifth followed by two more in the sixth, doing the damage off Bats relievers Jackson Stephens and Austin Brice.

Charlotte's 6-1 lead heading into the eighth inning set the stage for a tremendous comeback effort from the Louisville offense. In the top of the eighth, the Bats scored four runs, with RBI from Taylor Sparks, Nick Longhi, C.J. McElroy and Trahan.

In the top of the ninth, down to his last strike with two outs in the inning, Louisville catcher Tim Federowicz blasted a solo home run down 6-5 to tie up the ballgame. Charlotte closer Ian Hamilton was the victim of Federowicz's blast, his first in a Bats uniform.

Louisville right-hander Matt Wisler kept the Knights off the board in both the eighth and ninth innings, but was on the mound in the bottom of the 10th in a 6-6 game after Louisville's offense failed to score in the top of the inning. Wisler surrendered the walk-off double off the bat of Charlotte's Matt Skole, whose hit drove in Eloy Jimenez, who started off the inning at second base under the International League extra innings rule.

The extra-inning loss drops the Bats to 7-6 in extras this season, and 4-2 in extras on the road. Louisville has played in back-to-back extra inning games for the first time since May 2-3 this season.

Tomorrow, right-hander Tyler Mahle (0-1, 4.91) will take the mound for the Bats as they look to split the four-game series. Charlotte will counter with right-hander and former Bat, Asher Wojciechowski (5-8, 4.61) with first pitch set for 5:05 p.m.

Check out the Louisville Bats Statistics

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International League Stories from August 18, 2018


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