Bats Drop 12 Inning Thriller
May 27, 2013 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville (24-27) and Columbus (29-22) battled for twelve innings on Monday. The nearly five hour game saw 489 pitches, including 14 from Bats' catcher Corky Miller. The Bats rallied from a one run deficit in the eighth and three run deficits in the ninth and tenth innings. Columbus ultimately pulled ahead with a two-run home run from Chun Chen in the twelfth, winning by a score of 13-11.
The two teams combined to hit eight home runs. The Clippers saw homers from Matt Carson, Jeremy Hermida, Matt LaPorta, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Chen. Mike Hessman, Felix Perez, and Josh Fellhauer had home runs for the Bats.
Billy Hamilton drew a career-high four walks tonight. Hamilton also stole his International League leading 26th base of the year, while scoring three times. Fellhauer led the team with a 3-for-5 night with four runs batted in. In the last six games, Fellhauer has 11 RBI's.
Trailing 5-4, the Bats rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. With Henry Rodriguez on second and Emmanuel Burriss on first, Ashley hit a ground ball to the shortstop. Juan Diaz flipped the ball to second to retire Burriss. Then second baseman Lawson threw the ball into the Columbus dugout behind first base allowing Rodriguez to score and tie the game at five.
The tie wouldn't last long as Columbus came back up to bat in the ninth. Bats reliever Yohan Pino retired the first two batters, but then walked Cord Phelps. That walk brought LaPorta up to the plate. LaPorta sent a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right to put Columbus back on top. The Clippers weren't done there. The next batter, Chisenhall, also knocked a home run to put Columbus up by three, 8-5. The Bats gave up back-to-back home runs in last night's loss to Pawtucket as well.
Louisville would mount a rally in the bottom of the ninth against reliever Jerry Gil. With Hamilton leading off the inning, the Bats knocked three straight singles to start the inning. The third single, off the bat of Soto, scored Hamilton to cut the lead two. Perez drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Columbus brought in closer Preston Guilmet to try and finish the game. Coming into today's game, Guilmet led the IL in saves with 14. After striking out Rodriguez, he induced a ground ball from Hessman. Perez was retired at second but Hessman beat out the throw to first, continuing the inning and allowing Fellhauer to score. With two outs and a man on third, Burriss came through with a single to tie the game at eight. Ashley grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning and send the game into extras.
Kevin Whelan took the mound for Louisville in the tenth. Whelan walked two straight after striking out Diaz. With two outs, Phelps hit his second double of the game. Two runs came home on the Phelps double and Columbus wasn't done yet. LaPorta would bring his RBI total up to three with a single to score Phelps and give the Clippers the 11-8 advantage.
In the bottom of the tenth, Columbus turned to Rob Bryson (W, 1) to hold the lead. The Bats would not go down quietly however, with Negron and Hamilton reaching base with no outs. Fellhauer hit a double off the wall, plating both runners and putting the tying run in scoring position. Soto came through to tie the game on a double in the left field gap. With the winning run on second and nobody out, Bryson settled down and retired three in a row to send it to the eleventh.
Louisville had another chance to win it in the bottom of the eleventh inning. Burriss led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Hamilton and Fellhauer drew back to back walks to load the bases for Soto. With two outs, Soto struck out, sending this game to the twelfth inning.
Chun Chen, who had replaced Lawson in bottom of the ninth, became the hero in the twelfth, belting a two-run home run off Jose "Jumbo" Diaz (L, 2) to give Columbus a 13-11 lead. Miller is usually catching the pitcher, but Miller switched roles for the Bats in this extra inning affair. Miller was able to retire two Columbus batters and give Louisville a chance at another comeback in the bottom of the inning.
Matt Langwell (S, 1) got the call in the twelfth for the Clippers. Making his 19th appearance this season, Langwell retired Perez, and then got a ground ball double play to end the game and give Columbus the 13-11, twelve-inning win.
Carson led off the second inning with a solo blast to left field, his fifth of the year. The home run cut Louisville's lead to one. The Clippers were able to tie the game in their half of the third inning. Ezequiel Carrera led off with a bunt single. After stealing second, Phelps scored Carrera on a double. With LaPorta at the plate, the Bats ended the inning with a strikeout and throw out as Phelps was caught stealing third.
The Bats retook the lead in the bottom of the third off the bat of Hessman. Coming into the game, Hessman had reached base in 21 straight games. He continued that streak today with his team-leading 11th home run of the season. The solo shot put Louisville back in front, 3-2.
Louisville starter Daniel Corcino's day ended in the fourth inning. A walk and hit batter put two Clippers on for Hermida. Hermida launched a three run homer to right field for his eighth of the year. The home run put the Clippers back in front, 5-3. After giving up a single and a double, Corcino was pulled for reliever Curtis Partch. Partch retired the next two batters to strand two Clippers on base and end the top of the fourth. Corcino pitched 3.1 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits.
Game two of the series is tomorrow night at 6:35. Louisville will send LHP Tony Cingrani (2-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against LHP TJ House (1-2, 6.03 ERA). Cingrani has not allowed a run in his four starts with Louisville this season. Tomorrow is dollar hot dogs and dollar Pepsi night. It is also "End of School Appreciation Night"! The Bats, JCPS and Operation Parent have teamed up to offer all adults and children $5 Field Reserved tickets for the game. Tickets may be purchased at the Bats Box Office window or online using promo code "Family" (case sensitive).
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