Bats Ride Bailey to .500, Beat IronPigs 4-1
Published on June 7, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
Louisville, KY - The Louisville Bats were able to win their second game in a row against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 4-1. The Bats rode starter Homer Bailey's solid effort to the victory, in front of 8,371 fans at Louisville Slugger Field.
Bailey (6-5, 3.41) was able to build on a stellar performance from his last outing against the Pawtucket Red Sox, in which he pitched eight scoreless innings. Tonight, Bailey was just as stellar, pitching 6.2 innings of shutout baseball. He scattered seven hits on the night, while striking out six batters. He hasn't allowed a run in his last 14.2 innings of work.
After squandering an eighth inning lead in last night's game, the IronPigs looked to score early tonight. In the first, leadoff man Rich Thompson reached on an error by first baseman Wes Bankston. Thompson proceeded to steal second, before advancing to third on Miguel Cairo's one-out single. With runners on the corners, Bats' starter Homer Bailey battled back to get the next two IronPig hitters and escape the inning untainted.
The Bats also had an early scoring chance in the first, when Norris Hopper led off the inning with a double. Two batters later, Darnell McDonald hit a single to give the Bats runners on the corners. However, Wes Bankston bounced into a twin killing to end the inning.
Again in the second, the Bats put a runner on third base, but were unable to capitalize.
Finally, in the fourth, the Bats were able to get on the board. Drew Sutton (3-for-4) and Michael Griffin started the inning with back-to-back singles. With runners on first and second, a pick off attempt by catcher Lou Marson went astray down the right-field line, allowing Sutton to advance to third. Craig Tatum took advantage of the situation as he drove in Sutton with an RBI single, giving the Bats the lead, 1-0.
Louisville added on to their lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Wes Bankston. Drew Stubbs (3-for-5) singled with one out to start the rally. He then advanced to second on a groundout by Darnell McDonald. Stubbs then stole third base, his team-leading 19th of the year, to set up Bankston's RBI single, giving the Bats a 2-0 lead.
Lehigh Valley threatened once again in the seventh, with three singles by Lou Marson, Jason Ellison, and Rich Thompson. With the bases loaded, manager Rick Sweet pulled Bailey for reliever Robert Manuel. He was able to strike out Jason Donald looking to silence the IronPigs' scoring chances. Manuel has yet to allow an inherited runner to score all season long. He has came on with 16 runners on and none have scored.
Wes Bankston added his second RBI single of the game in the seventh. Drew Stubbs, who led off the inning with a double, scored on the Bankston single, extending the Bats' lead, 3-0.
In the eighth, Norris Hopper recorded an RBI, when he grounded into a fielder's choice. Luis Bolivar scored from third on the play making the score 4-0, in favor of the Bats. Bolivar reached base on a lead off single.
Kentucky-born Jeremy Slayden was able to finally put the IronPigs in the scoring column with a solo homerun in the ninth. The 375-foot bomb gave the game its' final tally of 4-1.
The IronPigs stranded ten runners on the night, while the Bats left nine of their own.
The Bats will continue action tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field against the IronPigs. Justin Lehr (6-2, 4.00) will get the start for the Bats, while the IronPigs haven't yet announced a starter. Come out and enjoy Meijer Monday and Baseball Bingo.
International League Stories from June 7, 2009
- Bats Ride Bailey to .500, Beat IronPigs 4-1 - Louisville Bats
- Durham Beats Pawtucket - Durham Bulls
- Tides Drop to the Mud Hens - Norfolk Tides
- Tribes Pitchers Dominate Bison - Indianapolis Indians
- Knights Offense Struggles in Loss - Charlotte Knights
- Bisons to Host Annual School Kids Day Tomorrow - Buffalo Bisons
- O's Place Izturis on DL, Select Salazar from Norfolk - Norfolk Tides
- Bisons Game Notes for June 7 - Buffalo Bisons
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.
