IL1 Louisville Bats

Bats' Hitting Cools Off, Lose 4-1

Published on May 17, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


FORT MILL, S.C. - The Charlotte Knights (15-27) unleashed Josh Phegley on Louisville (20-21) Thursday night as Phegley had two RBI's and scored twice en route to a 4-1 Charlotte win. Louisville was trying to get over the .500 mark for the first time since holding a 10-9 record.

The Bats got on the board in the top of the second, something they have done now in all three games against Charlotte. Denis Phipps and Emmanuel Burriss hit back-to-back 2-out doubles, Burriss's first of the season, to give Louisville a 1-0 lead. The Bats scored three and six runs in the second inning on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Louisville starter Chad Reineke (L, 3-3) was cruising until the fourth, when a hit batter turned into a three run inning for Charlotte. After plunking Brent Morel and walking Jordan Danks, red-hot Josh Phegley hit a 2-run double, advancing to third on the play. Phegley then scored to make it 3-1 after Lars Anderson hit a sacrifice fly. The Knights loaded the bases in the fifth but Reineke got Danks to flyout, ending the threat.

Phegley led off the sixth with a solo homerun to straightaway center, a career high 10th this season. Phegley leads the Knights in average (.339), RBI (26) and doubles (10). Two more singles in the inning would chase Reineke off the mound and bring in Clay Henlsey who proceeded to strike out three of the five batters he faced on the evening.

Reineke, who started the season allowing only one run in his first 21.2 innings, came in having allowed 15 runs in his last 14.2 innings. He finished the night tossing 5.1 innings giving up eight hits and four runs, allowing one homerun and hitting one batter. He walked one and struckout two.

Charlotte pitching found a way to stifle a Bats team that came in hitting .292 in May, up almost 80 points from the month of April (.215). Knights' starter Jason Berken (W, 3-3) was solid, throwing seven innings and striking out six while holding the Bats to only three hits. Jeff Gray (H, 1) worked a perfect eighth inning and closer Ramon Troncoso (S, 5) allowed one hit in the ninth.

Emmanuel Burriss collected hit eighth RBI of the game when he doubled in Phipps in the second inning, the only offensive output for the Bats all night. Multiple streaks were continued or broken for the Bats tonight. With his single in the second inning Phipps extended his hitting streak to season high seven games.

Felix Perez extended his streak to nine games with a single in the ninth. Neftali Soto has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games, but went 0-for-4 tonight, putting him at 1-for-15 for the series. Henry Rodriguez has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games. The Bats did not commit a fielding error for the fifth game in a row, a team high for the season.

The final game of the series will showcase RHP Armando Galarraga (2-1, 2.69) for Louisville, facing off against RHP Tony Pena Jr (0-3, 4.87). First pitch is at 7:15pm. It will also be the Louisville Bats final game at Knights Stadium, as Charlotte is moving to brand new BB&T Ball Park next season in uptown Charlotte.

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International League Stories from May 17, 2013


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