IL1 Louisville Bats

Bats Lose Wild One to Knights, 9-8

Published on June 24, 2014 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A game that saw two ties and three lead changes ultimately ended with Charlotte defeating Louisville 9-8 on Tuesday night at the new BB&T Ballpark.

The Knights came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning trailing 8-7. With two outs and runners on first and second, second baseman Carlos Sanchez singled to right field to score Michael Taylor and tie the game. However, the ball scooted under the glove of right fielder Steve Selsky and also allowed Tyler Saladino to score the go-ahead run.

Right-hander Ryan Kussmaul entered the game in the ninth inning and retired the Louisville's 3-4-5 hitters in order to secure the win.

A rain delay that lasted 1:18 suspended the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Knights leading 4-2. When the rain commenced, both starting pitchers were forced to exit the game.

Louisville right-hander Josh Smith went 5.1 innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits with one walks and five strikeouts. Opposite Smith, Charlotte right-hander Shawn Hill pitched six innings and gave up two earned runs on five hits with one walks and four strikeouts. Only two of the five hits surrendered by Hill came after the first inning.

Charlotte extended its lead to 6-2 when play resumed, only to see Louisville respond with four runs in the top of the seventh to tie the score, 6-6.

The back-and-forth nature of the game continued when the Knights regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the seventh only to see it go away on shortstop Rey Navarro's two-run home run in the top of the eighth. It was Navarro's first home run as a Louisville Bats and only his second in his Triple-A career. However, it was all for nothing as Charlotte won the game in the home half of the inning.

All in all, a total of five home runs, three by Charlotte and two by Louisville, were hit in the game. For Charlotte, they have now hit an International League-best 87 home runs on the season with second place Toledo 19 long balls in the rearview.

Louisville second baseman Ruben Gotay, who finished the night with his second three-hit performance of the season and tied the team high with his 23rd multi-hit game, blasted his 14th home run of the season only six pitches into the game.

Charlotte left-hander Nelvin Fuentes (1-2, 5.31) earned his first win of the season while Louisville right-hander Tim Crabbe (4-7, 4.75) suffered the loss and southpaw Ryan Dennick blew the save.

The two teams will play the second of a four-game series at BB&T Ballpark tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Louisville right-hander Brett Marshall (0-2, 8.10) is scheduled to take the mound and face Charlotte right-hander Deunte Heath (3-1, 2.61).

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International League Stories from June 24, 2014


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