Bats Fall Late to Mud Hens, 3-2
July 6, 2018 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In a low-scoring affair, the Louisville Bats (34-49) were stung by a pair of late home runs, falling, 3-2, to the Toledo Mud Hens (48-38) Friday evening at Louisville Slugger Field. The Bats' offense was unable to reproduce their early success as the final 11 batters were retired in one of the season's shortest contests.
Bats starter Justin Nicolino posted a terrific outing, only allowing two hits and no runs over five innings of work. In his first Bats relief appearance of the year, southpaw Cody Reed (2-7, 4.68) was saddled with the loss as he surrendered three runs and four hits with four strikeouts in four innings. Toledo reliever Warwick Saupold (1-0, 2.16) earned the victory with a commanding performance with one hit over three innings, setting up Zac Houston for his second save of the season. Mud Hens starter A.J. Ladwig turned in five innings and gave up two runs and five hits.
The Bats threatened early in the first with a pair of singles, but a double play closed the frame without scoring. In his second plate appearance of the night in the third, left fielder Phillip Ervin tallied Louisville's only runs with a 366-ft. two-run home run over the left field fence. The shot marked Ervin's second-consecutive night with a round-tripper, raising his July RBI total to five.
In the fourth, third baseman D.J. Peterson came within inches of a homer to left, but the ball remained in play and forced him to settle for his first triple of the season. After a walk to designated hitter Hernan Iribarren set up runners on the corners, another untimely double play ended one of the team's last scoring opportunities. In his first game back in Louisville, first baseman Brandon Dixon proved to be the final Bat to reach base with a double in the sixth, finishing 2-for-4 in the game.
Following a quick first inning of action, Reed returned for the seventh and opened the top half with a walk, allowing Toledo right fielder Jason Krizan to tie the game with a 372-ft. home run to the right field bleachers. In the next at-bat, catcher Grayson Greiner gave the Mud Hens the lead for good with a towering 418-ft. blast to left-center. Reed only allowed two base runners for the rest of the game, but the rally was complete for Toledo. Friday's game was the 19th time this season that the Bats have lost a game in which they were leading and only the fifth to come after six innings.
The Bats and Mud Hens will resume their series Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field in the second showcase of the special Mashers branding. Right-hander Jose Lopez (3-7, 4.98) will start for Louisville, with right-hander Jacob Turner (1-2, 4.43) countering for Toledo.
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