Bats Force Rubber Match with Win, 8-6
May 14, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
COLUMBUS, OH- The Bats forced a rubber match with an 8-3 victory over Columbus at Huntington Park. Louisville earned their 20th win on the strength of 11 hits. The Bats are now 5-5 on their season-long 11 game, 10-day road trip.
The Bats took the early lead in the second inning. Right fielder Steve Selsky lead off the inning with a line drive single into left field. First baseman Ray Chang followed Selsky with a single, and a bobbled ball in left field let Selsky come around to score the game's first run.
Louisville tacked on a couple more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Selsky collected his second lead-off single of the game. After Selsky's first stolen base of the year, designated hitter Seth Mejias-Brean hit a double into the right field gap, driving in the Bats' second run. Center fielder Juan Perez walked and catcher Christ Berset singled to load the bases. Shortstop Hernan Iribarren grounded into a 4-6 RBI fielder's choice, making it 3-0 Bats.
Columbus found their way onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. First baseman Jesus Aguilar walked to lead-off the inning. Two batters later, catcher Adam Moore doubled, putting two runners in scoring position. Third baseman Yandy Diaz drove in the first run for the Clippers with a sacrifice fly to center field. With two outs in the inning, right fielder Joey Butler doubled home another run, making it 3-2 Louisville.
The Clippers were able to tie the game in the fifth. Shortstop Yhoxian Medina was hit by a pitch. Second baseman Ronny Rodriguez followed with a double down the right field line, driving in his 13th RBI of the year.
The game did not remain tied for long. In the next half inning, Perez got all of a one-ball pitch and sent it over the right field fence for his first home run of the year.
Louisville added some insurance runs in the eighth. A Chang walk, Mejias-Brean single, and a Perez walk loaded the bases for Berset. He drove home a run on a sacrifice fly to center field. Iribarren walked to load the bases for a second time, and second baseman Carlos Triunfel drove in two more runs with a single. A fourth run scored when the Clippers committed a throwing error on Triunfel's single.
Columbus battled back in the eighth. A Diaz double and Butler single put two on for designated hitter Guillermo Quiroz, who hit a three-run home run into left center. It was the first three earned runs Bats' right hander Keyvius Sampson has allowed this season.
Right handed pitcher Robert Stephenson (3-2, 2.80) earned the win for the Bats. It was the first outing this season in which he was not able to go at least six innings. He finished after five and one-third innings, allowing four hits, three runs (two earned), walking three and striking out four on 95 pitches, 53 for strikes.
Left handed pitcher Ryan Merritt took the loss for Columbus after throwing six innings, allowing eight hits, four runs (two earned), walking one, and striking out two.
The Bats wrap up their 11-game road trip with a rubber match in Columbus tomorrow at 1:05 pm. Louisville will send right hander Daniel Wright (0-0, 3.60) to the mound to face right hander Will Roberts (3-1, 2.06) for Columbus.
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