Bats Win 6-5
July 28, 2009 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
Louisville, KY - The Louisville Bats kicked off an eight-game home stand in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night, defeating the Toledo Mud Hens, 6-5 in 11 innings on a walk-off, two-out, two-run double by Drew Stubbs. The game was tied 2-2 at the end of nine, and in the top of the 11th, the Hens put up three unearned runs to take a 5-2 lead, but in the bottom half of the 11th, the Bats scored four runs en route to the victory. The game was played at Louisville Slugger Field in front of 9,934 fans.
The Hens broke the initial dead-lock in the top of the 11th inning. Scott Sizemore doubled with one out, then Don Kelly reached on an error by Kevin Barker, and advanced to second on defensive indifference. Dlugach walked to load the bases with one out. Hessman then reached on an error by Eymann, scoring Sizemore and putting the Hens ahead 3-2. Larish singled, scoring Kelly, extending their lead to 4-2. Frazier then hit a sac-fly to McDonald, scoring Dlugach, pushing the lead to 5-2.
The Bats refused to give up in their half of the 11th. Bankston drew a one-out walk, and was followed up by an RBI double for Eymann, making it a 5-3 game. It was the first hit for the Bats since a Drew Stubbs single in the bottom of the second inning. Chris Valaika grounded out to short for the second out of the inning. Luis Bolivar walked, and Danny Dorn hit a pinch-hit single, plating Eymann, edging the Hens' lead to 5-4. Stubbs came up and ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Bolivar easily, and Dorn scored on a very close play at the plate.
Jeff Kennard picked up the win for the Bats. Kennard (3-1, 2.53) pitched two innings, giving up two hits, three unearned runs, two walks, while striking out three.
Josh Rainwater took the loss for the Mud Hens. Rainwater (0-3, 5.52) pitched two-and-two-thirds innings, surrendering two hits, four runs, two walks, while striking out two.
The Bats were able to get on the board right away in the bottom half of the first inning. Drew Stubbs led off the inning with a single. Two batters later, Darnell McDonald hit a single of his own, advancing Stubbs to third. Kevin Barker knocked in Stubbs via a sacrifice fly to left field, giving the Bats the early lead of 1-0. Wes Bankston followed up with a single, and Eric Eymann was able to plate McDonald with a chopper up the middle for a single making it a 2-0 game.
Bats' starter, Ben Jukich, coasted through the first three innings of the game, tossing three scoreless with four strikeouts. In the top of the fourth, the Mud Hens Mike Hessman got the best of Jukich as he blasted a 370 home run into the left field seats, making it a 2-1 game. The home run was number 300 of Hessman's minor league career.
Jukich ran into some more trouble in the top of the sixth. After striking out the first two batters of the inning, he gave up a two-out double to hot-hitting Jeff Frazier. He then walked Wilkin Ramirez, which was followed up by Brent Clevlen's RBI single evening the game at 2-2.
The Hens threatened in back-to-back innings in the eighth and ninth. In the top of the eighth, with two outs and Frazier at second base, Clevlen hit a fly ball to right field, as McDonald sprinted to get to it to make a sliding catch near the foul-line to surely save a run.
In the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter, Will Rhymes led off with a walk and subsequently stole second base. Don Kelly drew a one-out walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Brent Dlugach grounded into a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners with two-out. Reliever Zach Stewart was able to coax a pop up to the catcher out of Hessman to end the inning.
Jukich picked up a no-decision, pitching six innings, giving up seven hits, two runs, two walks, and striking out a season-high nine batters.
Chris Lambert started for the Mud Hens, also earned a no decision going five innings, surrendering six hits, two runs, three walks, while striking out three. Scot Drucker relieved Lambert and was near perfect. In three innings, Drucker gave up no hits, while walking one and striking out two.
The Bats and Mud Hens will lock up again tomorrow evening for game two of the four game series. First pitch is set for 7:05 P.M. RHP Sam LeCure (7-5, 4.27) will get the ball for the Bats. He will be opposed by RHP Eddie Bonine (2-4, 4.67) for the Mud Hens.
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