IL1 Louisville Bats

Bats' Late Rally Can't Overpower IronPigs

Published on April 28, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sunday's matinee meeting between the Louisville Bats (10-13) and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (10-14) looked to be a one sided affair until the late innings of the ballgame. The Pigs jumped on Louisville pitching early and often and held off a late rally from the Bats to secure a 12-7 win.

Lehigh Valley was able to plate two runs in the first inning to take the first lead of the game, a situation that has been troublesome for Louisville. After Sunday's loss, the Bats are now 0-11 when their opponent scores first.

The IronPigs did damage in seven different innings, hitting four home runs and scoring eight runs in the first five innings. Their fifth home run of the game in the eighth inning by Josh Fields marked a Lehigh Valley franchise record for most home runs in a single game.

Sunday was the first time Louisville has allowed 5 home runs in a game since June 7, 2008 against the Indianapolis Indians, a game that they won 13-12.

Louisville was able to generate six runs in the final three innings, including four in the ninth, but the late rally was too little too late. Highlighting the Bats' afternoon at the plate were Mike Hessman and Henry Rodriguez, who had three hits apiece. Five different hitters registered an RBI for the Bats, who had been struggling mightily at the plate entering the game.

Cesar Hernandez's one-out triple set the table for the IronPigs in the first. In the following at bat, Cody Asche grounded out to score Hernandez and make the Lehigh Valley lead 1-0. Right fielder Delmon Young, on a rehab assignment from the Philadelphia Phillies, singled in the inning and scored on Darin Ruf's seventh double of the season to give the Pigs a 2-0 lead.

The going didn't get any easier for Louisville in the second, as Leandro Castro led off the inning with a home run to left-center field, extending the Lehigh Valley lead to 3-0.

The IronPigs stayed on the offensive in the third, opening up a five run lead after home runs from Hernandez and Ruf made the lead 6-1. Bats starter Pedro Villarreal (L, 0-2) didn't make it out of the inning, and was relieved by Nick Christiani. In his 2.2 innings of work, Villarreal was charged with six earned runs on eight hits. He struck out two.

Another Lehigh Valley run came off of an Asche sacrifice fly that scored starting pitcher Cesar Jimenez and made the Pigs' lead 7-1 in the fourth inning.

Jimenez left the game after four innings of work despite striking out five and only allowing one run on three hits. Zach Miner (W, 1-1) relieved Jimenez in the fifth and went three innings, allowing only one run on a walk and three hits.

Ruf hit his second home run of the game in the fifth inning, pushing the IronPigs' lead to 8-1. He finished with four hits and 5 RBIs on the afternoon, and was one of six Pigs who had multiple hits in the game.

Lehigh Valley scored four more in the eighth and ninth innings to put the game out of reach. Pinch hitter Josh Fields' two-run blast in the top of the eighth made the lead 10-3 until Ruf and Tommy Joseph registered RBIs on a double and a single, respectively in the ninth to push the Pigs' final run tally to 12 runs.

The Bats tried to mount one final rally in the last frame, loading the bases and scoring on a Kristopher Negron walk. Another run crossed the plate when Billy Hamilton grounded out with the bases loaded, and Nevin Ashley doubled with men on second and third to make it a four-run ninth before Neftali Soto lined out to end the game.

The Bats and the IronPigs continue their four-game set at Louisville Slugger Field tomorrow evening at 6:35 p.m. RHP Daniel Corcino (0-4, 10.29) is set to go for Louisville against Lehigh Valley's LHP Adam Morgan (1-1, 2.55).

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International League Stories from April 28, 2013


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