IL Louisville Bats

Bats Split Twin Bill with Knights on Thunder at Slugger Day

Published on April 22, 2023 under International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release


Louisville, KY - The Louisville Bats (7-12) battled and split the double-header, winning Game One 4-2 before falling 8-5 to the Charlotte Knights (9-11) in Game Two in front of a crowd of 10,941 for Thunder at Slugger Day at Louisville Slugger Field.

Game one was a pitcher's duel in the beginning as both starting pitchers were locked in.

The Knights struck first in the top of the third, riding a leadoff triple to a two-run inning, taking a 2-0 lead.

Louisville responded in the bottom of the fourth, scoring its first run of the game courtesy of a Matt Reynolds solo home run. Henry Ramos drew a two out walk to keep the inning alive, followed immediately by a sharply hit double by Alex McGarry down the right field line to score Ramos and tie the game 2-2.

Bats starter Ben Lively (2-0, 3.38) turned in 6.0 quality innings, allowing just two runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Lively's effort would earn him his second win of the season and extend Louisville's win streak to six-games.

Louisville added to its lead in the sixth. TJ Hopkins got the offense started with a two-out single. Henry Ramos stepped to the plate next and launched his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field, to give the Bats a 4-2 lead.

Reliver Alan Busenitz (0-0, 1.13) came on to pitch for the Bats in the seventh, shutting down the Knights to secure the win and earn his second save of the year.

Sporting their Derby City Mint Julep uniforms for the first time since 2019 in game two, the Bats opened up the contest with a double off the bat of Michael Siani and a base hit from Alejo Lopez. With runners on the corners, Matt McLain brought Siani home with a ground ball to third base to give Louisville an early 1-0 advantage.

The Knights scratched a run across in the following frame to tie the game 1-1 before tallying three more runs in the of the third inning to extend their lead to 4-1. Charlotte continued to produce runs, putting up four more in the fifth inning to jump out to an 8-1 lead.

Louisville began to battle back in the home half of the fifth. Henry Ramos kicked the frame off with a line drive single before being brought home by a one out RBI double from Johnny Pereda. Matt McLain would bring Pereda home two batters later to cut into the deficit, 8-3.

The Bats continued to chip away in the sixth, scoring two runs on three base hits, highlighted by a pair of doubles from Hopkins and Alex McGarry, to get back within three, down 8-5.

Louisville's rally would come up short after a quiet seventh, giving the Knights an 8-5 victory to split the doubleheader.

Louisville and Charlotte will wrap up the six-game series tomorrow, Sunday, April 23 at 1:05 pm E.T. from Louisville Slugger Field. Bats lefty Brandon Williamson (1-1, 4.42) will get the ball for his second start of the week while Charlotte has yet to announce its starter.

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International League Stories from April 22, 2023


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