Bats Rally Comes up Short in 8-5 Loss to Tides
June 3, 2025 - International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - The Louisville Bats dug themselves a big hole early and were never able to fully climb out of it in an 8-5 loss to the Norfolk Tides in the series opener on Tuesday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
Following a difficult road week at Toledo, the Bats did not get off to the start they were hoping for against Norfolk. Bats righty Adam Plutko got two quick outs, but a home run from Samuel Basallo put the Tides on the board first.
The game unraveled for Plutko an inning later. Jud Fabian began the inning with a solo home run. Jeremiah Jackson singled to put a runner back on base. The runs kept coming with an RBI triple from Dylan Beavers, an RBI double from Jordan Westburg, an RBI double from Vimael Machin, and an RBI single from Luis Vazquez extended the Tides' lead to 6-0.
Plutko (L, 0-4) was pulled after getting just five outs, giving up six runs, five earned, on eight hits to suffer the loss. Albert Abreu was first out of the Louisville bullpen and did well to stop the Tides, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings.
After three scoreless innings, the Bats offense woke up in a hurry against starter Kyle Brnovich in the fourth. Rece Hinds lined a one-out double into the left-field corner. Jack Rogers followed with a two-run blast to right that just cleared the fence for his second Triple-A home run to get the Bats on the board. Levi Jordan kept the rally going with a single to center. Davis Wendzel then connected on a two-run home run of his own to the berm in left-center. His fifth home run of the year trimmed the Norfolk lead to 6-4.
The Tides immediately got a run back on a solo home run from Vazquez against Bats reliever Yosver Zulueta. Louisville responded with a sacrifice fly from Edwin Rios to make it 7-5. The Bats loaded the bases with one out in a bid to get even. But Tides reliever Nick Richmond struck out Jordan and got a ground out from Wendzel to preserve the two-run lead.
Basallo connected on his second home run of the night in the eighth off Sam Moll, giving the Tides a three-run lead at 8-5, and the Bats would get no closer from there.
Kade Strowd (W, 2-2) pitched a clean sixth for the Tides. Former Bats Cionel Perez and Levi Stoudt did the same for the Tides in the seventh and eighth. Houston Roth (S, 1) finished off the win to get his first save of the season.
For the Bats, Hunter Parks made his Triple-A debut with a scoreless seventh. Connor Phillips kept the Tides off the board in the eight and Reiver Sanmartin was able to hold the deficit at three in the ninth. Offensively, Rogers went 2-for-4 with the home run and two RBI, the only Bat to record more than one hit. Rehabbing Reds infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand went 0-for-2 with three walks in the loss.
The Bats (24-33) and Tides (21-36) continue the series on Wednesday night at Louisville Slugger Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET. Nick Curran and Jim Kelch will be on the call for Sports Talk 790.
International League Stories from June 3, 2025
- Indians Toppled by Trio of Seventh Inning Runs - Indianapolis Indians
- Miranda Homers for Second Straight Game, But Saints Fall 8-5 - St. Paul Saints
- Memphis Holds on Late, Opens Series with Victory over Indianapolis - Memphis Redbirds
- RailRiders Answer St. Paul Rally to Take Opener - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Five-Run Eighth Inning Helps Sounds Pull Away from Stripers - Nashville Sounds
- Peters Continues Hot Stretch as Bulls Batter Jumbo Shrimp 7-1 - Durham Bulls
- Jacksonville Drops Series Opener to Durham - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Close Game Gets Away in Nashville as Stripers Lose 8-4 - Gwinnett Stripers
- June 3 Game Postponed in Omaha - Iowa Cubs
- Despite a Strong Defensive Start, the Hens Fall to the Clippers on Tuesday Evening - Toledo Mud Hens
- WooSox Hit Game-Tying Homers in 9th, 10th, Win on Walkoff - Worcester Red Sox
- Baldwin and Julks Go Deep in 10-6 Defeat - Charlotte Knights
- Full House Sees Clippers Prevail Tuesday - Columbus Clippers
- Red Wings Fall to WooSox in 10 Innings - Rochester Red Wings
- Frankie Montas Makes MLB Rehab Start for Syracuse But Mets Fall to Bisons, 8-5, on Tuesday Night - Syracuse Mets
- Will Robertson's Three Home Run Night Leads Bisons to 8-5 Win in Syracuse - Buffalo Bisons
- Basallo Blasts Two Homers In Win At Louisville - Norfolk Tides
- Bats Rally Comes up Short in 8-5 Loss to Tides - Louisville Bats
- 'Pigs Pop Three Homers to Blast by Knights - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Bisons CF Will Robertson Hits 3 Home Runs in Tonight's Game at Syracuse - Buffalo Bisons
- June 3rd Omaha Storm Chasers Game Postponed - Omaha Storm Chasers
- June 3 Game Notes: Iowa Cubs at Omaha Storm Chasers - Iowa Cubs
- Norfolk Tides Announce Front Office Promotions - Norfolk Tides
- SWB RailRiders Game Notes- June 3, 2025 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - June 3 at Worcester - Rochester Red Wings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
