Bats Win Extra Inning Thriller, 6-4
May 27, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Louisville Bats defeated the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in a thrilling 6-4 victory on Friday night. The win puts the Bats just one game behind division leading Columbus. Right-hander Robert Stephenson took a perfect game into the sixth inning, but did not factor into the decision.
The Bats waited until the top of the third to get on the scoreboard. Right fielder Kyle Waldrop singled on a soft fly ball to start the inning off. Three batters later, second baseman Juan Perez doubled, scoring Waldrop. Short stop Jose Peraza then singled, which scored Perez. All told, seven batters came to the plate and it gave the Bats a 2-0 lead.
Stephenson retired the first 15 batters he faced before third baseman Taylor Featherston hit a leadoff single in the sixth inning. Stephenson followed that up with a walk, but stranded both base runners.
In the seventh, the IronPigs got on the board. First baseman Darin Ruf hit a solo home run, bringing Lehigh Valley within one.
Louisville responded in the top of the eighth, when third baseman Jermaine Curtis hit a two out, two run home run, giving the Bats a 4-1 lead.
That's when things went sideways for Stephenson. He got two quick outs before allowing a walk. That was followed by back-to-back-to-back RBI base hits, which tied the game, 4-4, and knocked Stephenson out of the game.
He went seven and two-thirds innings, a new season high. While he did not factor into the decision, he allowed five hits and four runs, all earned, and three walks, striking out five. He collected five strikeouts.
The game went to extra innings, and the Bats broke through again in the 11th. Center fielder Scott Schebler led off with a ground rule double, and two batters later, Waldrop doubled to put runners on second and third for catcher Raffy Lopez. Lopez hit a single to left field, allowing both Schebler and Waldrop to score, making it 6-4 in favor of the Bats.
Jumbo Diaz shut the door in the ninth to earn his fifth save of the season. Right hander Matt Magill (1-0, 0.00) pitched two innings, allowing just one walk and striking out three, as he earned the win. The Bats' bullpen did not allow a hit after Stephenson left the game, and the only base runner they allowed was the leadoff walk from Magill in the 10th.
Right hander Michael Mariot took the loss, falling to 0-1. He allowed three hits and two runs, walking one and striking out two in two innings of work. Right hander Ben Lively got the start for the IronPigs and went seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs, walking one and striking out five.
The Bats will look to secure a series win and a winning road trip when they take on the IronPigs beginning at 6:35 p.m. tomorrow night. Right hander Keyvius Sampson (1-1, 2.66) will go for the Bats, while the IronPigs will counter with left hander James Russell (1-0, 0.68).
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