Bats Lose Hard-Fought Game in Extras
May 4, 2013 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
BUFFALO, Ny. - The Louisville Bats (13-15) and the Buffalo Bisons (18-8) were locked in a close game throughout, all the way into extra innings. The Bats were seeking their first four-game winning streak of the season, and to get back to .500. The Bisons, meanwhile, looked to pad their lead in the IL North. Ultimately, the Bisons were able to pull out the victory thanks to Andy LaRoche, winning the game 4-3 in 11 innings. LaRoche tied the game with a single in the eighth inning and won it for the Bisons in the 11th.
The Bisons got the scoring started in the second inning with a home run by catcher Josh Thole. The homer was Thole's third on the season.
The Bats threatened in the fourth with leadoff triple by Felix Perez, but Bisons' starter Edgar Gonzalez worked out of trouble getting two strikeouts and a groundout.
The fifth inning was not as fortunate for Gonzalez, however. A leadoff double by Josh Fellhauer and single by Konrad Schmidt put Bats on first and third with no outs. Billy Hamilton grounded to short, but was able to stay out of a double play and pick up the RBI to tie the game. The one run was all the Bats could muster in the fifth, as Billy Hamilton was caught stealing third base for the final out of the inning. This is the second time Hamilton has been caught this season.
Hamilton would steal a base later in the game, however, pushing his league-leading total to 17; Hamilton is 17-for-19 (89.5%) stealing bases this season.
The Bisons' starter exited after five innings of work, giving up just one run on five hits, with six strikeouts and no walks.
After the Bisons lined back-to back hits to begin the home-half of the fifth, Thole drove in his second run of the night on a flare down the left field line just over the glove of third baseman Neftali Soto. Pitching out of trouble all night, Reynolds was able to induce a double play to get out of the inning.
Reynolds battled and was able to give the Bats their 11th quality start of the season, giving up just two runs despite nine hits and two walks through six innings.
Mike Hessman has gotten his swing back on track of late, and launched his sixth homer of the season in the sixth inning to tie the ballgame, his first long ball since April 9 and first on the road. The home run leaves Hessman just ten away from 400 in his professional career (370 in MiLB, 14 in MLB, 6 in Japan). He finished the night 1-for-4 with the home run and a walk.
The eighth inning seemed promising for the Bats, who were able to take a 3-2 lead in the top half. After a single by Perez and a walk to Hessman to start the inning, Emmanuel Burriss put down a successful sacrifice. A wild pitch by Alex Hinshaw, his second of the inning, allowed Perez to slide in safely at home. Hinshaw argued the call thinking he had tagged out the runner, and was subsequently thrown out of the game by home plate umpire Will Little. Hinshaw's replacement, Neil Wagner, was able to escape without any further damage.
Curtis Partch (BS, 1) entered to try and preserve the thin lead, but gave up a single, walk, and another single to begin the inning, tying the ballgame. The tying run was driven in by Andy LaRoche, who had been attempting to lay down a sacrifice bunt prior to reaching a two-strike count. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Partch bounced back to strike out the next three batters to hold the score at 3-3.
The Bats then turned to Jose Diaz who has been very effective since joining the team on April 15. Diaz allowed the Bisons to load the bases in the ninth, but got out of trouble. Remaining in the game in the tenth, Diaz extended his scoreless streak thus far with the Bats, now through nine full innings pitched.
The Bats were unable to do any damage in their half of the eleventh, and Mike MacDougal (L, 0-1) entered to try and carry the team to the 12th inning. After retiring the first batter he faced, MacDougal allowed a walk and a single, bringing LaRoche to the plate in another pivotal situation. LaRoche again came through for the Bisons, doubling over the head of Billy Hamilton in center field, which plated the winning run.
Both teams had ample opportunities to score runs, with the Bats stranding 11 runners on base and the Bisons stranding 17. It was the Bisons' 3-for-19 with runners in scoring position would overcome the Bats' 1-for-14. In their first extra innings game of the season, the Bisons pulled out the victory.
Neftali Soto was unable to extend his eight game hitting streak, going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts; he was the lone Bats' starter to not reach base.
The Bats' play their third of four against the Bison tomorrow at 1:05 PM. The Bats will send Pedro Villarreal (0-2, 4.23) to the mound to face former Reds hurler Ramon Ortiz (1-0, 2.13) of the Bisons.
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