IL1 Louisville Bats

Bats Come up Short in the Ninth, Losing 6-5

Published on May 9, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


LOUISVILLE, Ky. -The Louisville Bats (14-20) failed to get their first home series victory in heart-breaking fashion at Louisville Slugger Field in the rubber game of the three-game matchup with the Syracuse Mets (19-14).

The game started as a traditional pitcher's duel with both teams only combining for three runs through the first six innings. Louisville's Vladimir Gutierrez (1-3, 7.84) was able to put his early season woes behind him as he gave up a lone run on four hits through the first six innings, earning his first quality start of the season, and was posed for the win heading into the 7th, protecting a 2-1 lead.

However, the Mets would go on to spoil Gutierrez's decision, thanks toRajai Davis. Davis led the Mets offense with three hits in his five at-bats with the most devastating being a two-run double in the seventh.

Syracuse would tack on three more insurance runs through the remainder of the contest and appeared to be in position to seal the deal with a 6-2 lead as the Bats came to the plate in the bottom of the 9th. However, Louisville was not prepared to go down without a fight.

Syracuse chose to go to the crafty left-handed veteran Sean Burnett to close out the game, but Burnett would get into trouble quickly giving up back to back singles and a walk to load the bases before being yanked in favor of righty AquimedesCaminero. Caminerowould immediately give up a two-run single to Philip Ervin which would bring the winning run to the plate with no outs. Ervin went 4-for-4 on the night.

After a Scott Schebler strikeout, the Bats would roll the dice and get both runners in scoring position with a double steal from Brian O'Grady and Ervin. The steal was O'Grady's third of the game and was the first three-steal game by a Bat since June 11, 2013 when Billy Hamilton accomplished the feat.

In the next at-bat, Nick Longhi would stroke a hard ground ball back up the middle for a single, but an excellent diving stop from Mets shortstop Luis Guillorme would keep the ball on the infield and save the tying run. From there, Caminero would induce a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat, earn his seventh save of the season and thwart the Bats' dramatic comeback.

Louisville will host the Chicago White Sox Triple-A affiliate Charlotte Knights tomorrow night for the first of a three-game series with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Righty Odrisamer Despaigne (2-2, 5.28) will get the ball for the Bats and will face off against Charlotte's southpawColton Turner (2-0, 4.58).

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International League Stories from May 9, 2019


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