IL1 Louisville Bats

Bats Lose Series Opener on Walk-Off, 3-2

Published on June 1, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


TOLEDO, Oh - Tempers flaring proved beneficial for Toledo (18-38) as Brad Davis, in for the ejected catcher Bryan Holaday scored the winning run on a Ramon Cabrera RBI-single to beat Louisville (27-28) 3-2 on Friday night. The game was delayed 42 minutes at the start due to a quick rain shower.

Toledo got on the board first after a 2-run homerun from Ben Guez, his seventh of the year. Scoring on the homer was Nick Castellanos who drew a 4-ball walk to begin the inning. Louisville starter Pedro Villarreal has allowed 13 homeruns this season, the most in the International League.

Mike Hessman, former Toledo Mud Hen and current Louisville Bat, walked in the top of the second extending his on-base streak to 26 games. It is the second longest streak in the IL. Hessman is the homerun leader for the Toledo franchise after he spent five seasons (2005-2009) there.

After Hessman's walk in the second, Toledo starter Derek Hankins retired eight straight Louisville players until Hessman walked back to the plate. With one swing of the bat, Hessman made it 2-1 as he took a fastball out to deep center field, his league leading 14th homerun of the season.

The Bats would tie it up in the sixth on a controversial play at the plate. Billy Hamilton doubled to leadoff the inning, and then advanced to third on a groundball. Neftali Soto grounded to shortstop and Hamilton took off for home, getting in after the ball but around the catcher to score and make it 2-2.

Toledo skipper Phil Nevin immediately came out to argue, eventually getting tossed. Following a ball to the next batter, Felix Perez, Toledo catcher Holaday began arguing with home plate umpire A.J. Johnson, and he too was tossed.

Louisville had a great chance in the eighth to break the tie but Med Hen Jordan Lennerton had other ideas. Josh Fellhauer singled to leadoff and Hamilton tried to bunt him over to second. Hamilton's bunt was popped up, Lennerton made a diving catch from first and was able to throw back to the bag and double up Fellhauer. Henry Rodriguez singled on the next at-bat but was stranded.

Davis turned a 2-out single into a double with electric speed on the base paths, getting into scoring position in the bottom of the ninth. Ramon Cabrera, 0-for-3 thus far hit a single into center and Hamilton couldn't get the throw home in time.

Jordan Lennerton cracked a one out single to right field in the eighth, extending his league leading on-base streak to 32 games. Perez continued his struggle, going 1-for-4. Coming into tonight, Perez had dropped below .300 for the first time all season and was on a 3-for-24, six game slump.

Villarreal (ND, 1-3) pitched a strong seven innings giving up four hits and two runs, striking out three and giving up the Guez homerun. Mud Hens starter Derek Hankins (ND, 1-3) almost mirrored Villarreal, going seven giving up four hits and two runs, striking out four and giving up the Hessman homerun.

Evan Reed (W, 1-1) got the win, pitching one out in the eighth and the top of the ninth. Jose Diaz (L, 1-3) pitched 1.2 innings, giving up three hits and one run, the winning run in the ninth.

Saturday night's game will feature Louisville's RHP Daniel Corcino (2-7, 7.53) against the Mud Hens' LHP Casey Crosby (1-5, 5.14). First pitch at 7:00pm, pre-game show will start at 6:30pm on Sports Radio 790 WKRD-AM.

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International League Stories from June 1, 2013


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