Bats Defeat Clips 8-5, "84" Wins Tie Franchise Record
Published on August 24, 2008 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
Louisville, KY - Louisville fell behind 5-2 early but managed to score six unanswered runs to earn an 8-5 victory over the Columbus Clippers. 7,135 fans were in attendance to see the Bats tie a franchise record with 84 wins on the season. The win also put the Bats a record 32 games over .500 and was their 19th in the month of August, which ties another franchise record.
In the first inning, Louisville got the scoreboard first when Drew Anderson lofted a sacrifice fly into center field allowing leadoff man Danny Richar score to put the Bats in front 1-0.
Coming off a rough outing last time out against Durham, Matt Maloney got into trouble again in the second inning. Columbus opened up the frame with the four straight hits. Luke Montz drove in the first run for the Clippers when he doubled to right, scoring Jorge Padilla. The big blow of the inning came when Leonard Davis delivered a three-run shot to right that put Columbus up 4-1.
The Bats answered with a run in the bottom of the second and then scored two more in the fifth. Trailing 5-2, Danny Richar doubled down the right field line and Craig Tatum scored on a throwing error by the catcher, Montz. Drew Stubbs came up next and brought Richar home with a RBI single to help the Bats to pull within one run making the score 5-4 in favor of Columbus.
The seventh inning proved to be very good for Louisville as they roared back to take an 8-5 lead with a four-run inning of their own. The highlight of the inning was a 410-foot, two-run shot that helped Louisville regain the lead. The Bats fourth run came when Drew T. Anderson scored on a wild pitch by Clippers reliever Zechry Zinicola.
A dicey eighth inning almost saw the Bats give up their newfound lead. Carlos Fisher replaced Maloney and allowed the first three batters to reach. However, Fisher was not rattled with the predicament as he stuck out the next batter Leonard Davis. He then induced a double play off of the bat of pinch-hitter Larry Broadway to escape the jam unscathed.
Maloney (11-4, 4.35) settled in after a rough second inning and limited the Clippers to a solo run the rest of the way. He was rewarded by picking up his 11th win of the season. Maloney went seven innings, gave up ten hits, five runs and struck out four.
Zinicola (3-3, 6.37) ended up with loss, giving up five hits and four runs in two innings of work.
Justin Lehr came in the ninth inning and closed the book on the Clippers to picked up his first save of the season.
Louisville and Columbus will compete again Monday evening in the third of a four-game series. The game is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. Tomorrow's pitching match-up will see the Bats send RHP Ramon Ramirez (3-5-1, 3.28) to the hill to go head-to-head against Clippers RHP Craig Stammen (1-2, 7.11).
International League Stories from August 24, 2008
- Bats Defeat Clips 8-5, "84" Wins Tie Franchise Record - Louisville Bats
- Indians Hold on to Beat Bulls 10-6 - Indianapolis Indians
- Rally Falls Short but Bulls Get Closer to Division Crown - Durham Bulls
- Knights Ride the Tides Out - Charlotte Knights
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo Bisons
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