Bats Rally in Eighth to Upend IronPigs 5-3
August 10, 2018 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - An eighth-inning rally propelled the Louisville Bats (52-62) to a 5-3 victory over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (70-47) on Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
With two outs and a runner at first in the eighth, Taylor Sparks managed to sneak a clutch RBI-single down the first base line that brought home Brian O'Grady. Sparks was scored in the next at-bat when Josh VanMeter doubled into right field which gave the Bats the 5-3 advantage.
Right-hander Kevin Quackenbush (0-1, 2.39) climbed the hill in the ninth and sealed the victory for Louisville on his way to recording his 21st save of the season.
The Bats jumped out to the early advantage in the first inning when C.J. McElroy opened up with a leadoff single and was able to advance to second base when IronPigs' starter Ranger Suarez (2-0, 3.12) was called for a balk. The miscue by the hurler made it easy for McElroy to score on a single into right field by Brian O'Grady.
It was slugger Gabriel Guerrero who gave Louisville the 2-0 advantage in the third when he belted his 15th homer of the season to straight-away center field. Guerrero extended his hit streak to six games and finished 1-for-3 in the game with a walk to go along with his home run.
Starting pitcher Lucas Sims (4-3, 2.68) made easy work of the IronPigs the first trip through their lineup before conceding a run in the fourth. Sims gave up a leadoff walk to Dean Anna to begin the frame which was followed up by Ryan Goins single and a ground-rule double by Mitch Walding that scored Anna.
An error on a pick-off attempt by the Lehigh Valley catcher allowed O'Grady to walk in from third base in the sixth and put the Bats on top 3-1.
Sims was lifted after throwing 91 pitches (58 strikes) through six innings. The right-handed starter gave up just two hits and one run while striking out seven in his second start as a Bat since joining the team as part of a trade on July 30 between the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves.
The IronPigs tied the game up in the seventh inning after plating a pair of runs off reliever Jackson Stephens (1-1, 4.54). Danny Ortiz singled home Dylan Cozens and Zach Green to bring the game back to even before Sparks go-ahead hit in the eighth.
Stephens gave up two runs on three hits and recorded two strikeouts in one inning during his second rehab appearance.
Louisville and Lehigh Valley continue their weekend series on Saturday with left-hander Justin Nicolino (5-6, 4.92) scheduled to start for the Bats against the Pigs' right-handed Enyel De Los Santos (9-4, 2.51). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
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