Bats Run Clippers Aground 12-11
July 10, 2004 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
Trailing 11-9 in the bottom of the eighth, Aaron Holbert led off the inning with a single to centerfield. Stephen Smitherman followed with a RBI double to bring the Bats to within one. Jim Chamblee walked, but was erased after Dane Sardinha grounded into a double play. Gary Burnham hugged a double inside the right-field line to tie the game at 11. Kenny Kelly, who was hitless for the game, singled sharply into center to plate Burnham and the eventual game wining run. Aaron Myette came on in the ninth to record his 10th save of the season.
The Bats were led by the offensive effort of Sardinha. The All-Star catcher finished the evening with four base hits and four RBI. Sardinha stroked his seventh home run of the season by taking a Colter Bean offering into the left field seats. The homer ended a 68 inning streak in which a Columbus reliever had not allowed a home run. Burnham, Smitherman and Ray Olmedo all contributed three hit games for the Bats.
A day after rapping out a season high 20 base hits, the Clippers followed the effort by pounding out an additional 17 in tonight's game. The Clippers were led by Homer Bush who laced four base hits including two doubles. All-Star Andy Phillips continued his white-hot stroke by knocking out his 15th home run of the year, while Felix Escalona provided the Clippers with three RBI.
Matt Belisle made his 18th start for the Bats and did not factor in tonight's decision. Belisle was not sharp, but provided the Bats a gritty performance by going five and two-thirds allowing six earned runs on eleven hits while striking out three Clippers. Brian Shackelford (6-1) did not pitch well, but benefited by the Bats comeback picked up the win in relief.
Carlos Reyes took the hill for the Clippers for the fifth time since being called up from Double-A Trenton. Reyes labored through three and a third innings giving up six runs on eleven Bats hits before giving way to Andy Beal in the fourth. Scott Proctor (2-2) suffered his second loss of the season, allowing the winning run in the bottom of the eighth. To make matters worse, Proctor was ejected by first base umpire Brad Cole for arguing at the conclusion of the inning.
The time of tonight's game was 3:23 and the attendance was 8,100. The Bats will play game three of a four-game series against the Columbus Clippers on Saturday, July 10 at 6:15 p.m. The starters are RHP Seth Etherton (3-3, 3.99) for Louisville while Columbus counters with RHP Orlando Hernandez (2-1, 5.62).
International League Stories from July 10, 2004
- Lynx knock out Farnsworth for win - Indianapolis Indians
- Shiver Me Timbers! Clippers Out Duel Bats, 1-0 - Louisville Bats
- Rupert to visit Victory Field July 16 - Indianapolis Indians
- Bats Run Clippers Aground 12-11 - Louisville Bats
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