IL1 Louisville Bats

Bats Rally Late But Fall to RailRiders, 5-4

July 20, 2019 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


MOOSIC, Pa. - In the 99th game of the season, the Louisville Bats (38-61) rallied late, but ultimately fell to the Scranton Wilkes/Barre RailRiders (57-42) Saturday night at PNC Field. The Bats will look to take the three-game series in Sunday's rubber-match game.

Righty Tejay Antone (2-4, 5.22) got the start for Louisville, going for his third consecutive quality start. Coming into Satuday's start, Antone had allowed just two home runs spanning 75.0 innings with Double-A Chattanooga and Louisville. RailRiders catcher Kyle Higashioka would make it four as he knocked a pair of home runs, his first being in the second inning to put Scranton/Wilkes-Barre up 1-0. Antone would shake off the homer by striking out the next two batters to end the inning.

The Bats' offense responded quickly plating a run in the third to knot the game at one. Louisville first baseman Nick Longhi provided his second hit of the night in as many at-bats singling in Narciso Crook, who originally reached on a walk. RailRiders starter Deivi Garcia (1-0, 4.50) would be relieved by Domingo Acevedo to start the fourth. Alex Blandino and Chadwick Tromp got to Acevedo quickly starting the inning with back-to-back singles, as Blandino would eventually cross the plate thanks to a Blake Trahan sacrifice fly putting the Bats up 2-1.

The RailRiders erased the Bats' lead in the fourth by putting four runs on the board. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre would plate two on a Thairo Estrada double, then the very next batter, Higashioka would belt his second homer of the night to take a 5-2 lead, which marks the 19th multi-home run game against the Bats this season. With the bases loaded and no outs in the inning, Antone would be relieved by Joe Mantiply. Mantiply worked out of the jam quickly by recording a strike out and then turning a double play to end the inning.

The RailRiders would load the bases again in the sixth, but Mantiply again worked his way out of the bases-loaded jam for the second time of the night. Mantiply worked 3.0 scoreless innings allowing just two hits while striking out one. Bats' reliever Alex Powers tossed 2.0 scoreless innings allowing just two hits and a walk, striking out one.

In the seventh, Louisville shortstop Blake Trahan smacked a solo home run to cut the RailRiders lead to 5-3, which was Trahan's first on the season and second RBI of the night. For the second straight night Louisville would look for some ninth inning magic. Down 5-3, Bats' outfielder Scott Schebler would hit a solo home run to make it a one-run game. RailRiders closer David Sosebee would pick up the save ending the Louisville rally retiring the next three batters. Acevedo came away with the win.

In the final game of the Bats' road-trip, Louisville right-hander Keury Mella (5-10, 4.88) is expected to toe the rubber Sunday facing off against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre lefty Daniel Camarena (4-4, 5.52) at PNC Field. With a win, the Bats will clinch a winning-road trip.

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International League Stories from July 20, 2019


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