IL1 Louisville Bats

Bats Heat Back Up, Win a Thriller 6-5

Published on May 18, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga - The Louisville Bats (21-22) heated up their Louisville Sluggers for game one of a four game set against the Gwinnett Braves (16-28) collecting 14 hits en route to a 6-5 win Saturday night. Greg Reynolds (W, 4-0) pitched his sixth quality start in eight, going seven innings giving up only two runs on five hits while striking out four.

Twice on the night the Bats top of the order collected four straight hits to open an inning, scoring five of their six runs in those instances. Billy Hamilton laid down a bunt single to start the third, followed by Kristopher Negron, Denis Phipps and Felix Perez all hitting singles. Phipps' hit scored Hamilton and Perez's hit scored Negron. Hamilton and Phipps also pulled off a double steal in the inning, giving Hamilton 22 on the season which leads the IL.

Reynolds took a hitless game into the fourth and that's when the G-Braves tried for their best Louisville impersonation. Jose Constanza and Tyler Pastornicky hit back-to-back singles then scored on Brandon Boggs' 2-RBI double. The threat was ended however when G-Braves pitcher Yohan Flande grounded into a 4-3 double play.

Louisville had multiple players with multi-hit games including Henry Rodriguez who hit his second homerun of the season in the fifth inning, a solo shot, giving the Bats a 3-2 lead. Hamilton got it going again for Louisville in the seventh, leading off with a double. Negron, Phipps and Perez would follow with singles and Negron's hit scored Hamilton giving the Bats a 4-2 edge.

A bases loaded throwing error on Pastornicky allowed Negron and Phipps to score. Rodriguez grounded to Pastornicky who tried to throw home and catch Negron trying to score. The throw went over the catcher's head, an error on Pastornicky and two free runs for the Bats extending their lead 6-2.

Flande (L, 1-4) was knocked around by the Bats in his six innings of work, giving up 13 hits and six runs, four of those earned, along with a solo homerun. Gwinnett's bullpen was strong in three innings of relief while the Bats' pen almost gave the game away.

Jose Arredondo started the eighth and had Terdoslavich on second via a double with two outs, then gave up a single to Boggs and an RBI single to pinch-hitter Corey Wimberly. Yohan Pino relieved Arredondo, gave up one more run then struck out the final batter of the inning.

With a 6-4 lead entering the ninth, Pino (S, 4) was able to work himself out of a jam after giving up a run. Gwinnett's clean-up hitter Ernesto Mejia was up with a runner on second and two outs. Pino got Mejia to ground to short and the throw to first was in time, preserving the Bats 6-5 win.

The top five batters in the Bats lineup went 12-for-24, scoring all six runs. Denis Phipps came up with the timeliest hits for Louisville, going 3-for-5 with two RBI's, a run scored and a stolen base (7).

Game two on Sunday afternoon will put Louisville starter RHP Pedro Villarreal (1-2, 4.53) against the G-Braves RHP Brandon Beachy who will be making his first appearance of the season. First pitch is at 2:05pm.

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International League Stories from May 18, 2013


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