IL Louisville Bats

Bats Win Fifth Straight Against Columbus on Saturday Night

June 10, 2023 - International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release


COLUMBUS, OH - The Louisville Bats (35-26) tied their longest winning streak of the season on Saturday night, defeating the Columbus Clippers (30-31) 10-9 on the strength of an eight-run offensive explosion in the fifth inning, six of which came with two outs.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Matt Reynolds, and Chuckie Robinson combined for seven RBI on the evening as the Bats recorded double-digit hits for the 30th time this season on their way to a fifth straight victory.

Encarnacion-Strand got the scoring started for the Bats when he crushed his 17th home run of the season and third of the series to lead off the second inning as each of the first three leadoff hitters on the evening for Louisville reached base safely.

The Clippers answered back by tacking on two runs in the third, before the Bats set a new season-high for runs in an inning to blow the game open in the fifth.

The Bats initially evened the score at two with another lead-off home run, this time on a solo shot from Robinson to straightaway center, the 100th homer of the season for the Bats.

With two outs in the inning, the Bats' offense ignited after Nick Martini singled and made his way around the basepaths on a throwing error and a wild pitch, before finally scoring on a Columbus balk.

After taking the lead on Martini's run, Joey Votto and Wil Myers both drew walks, giving Encarnacion-Strand the opportunity to add to the lead with an RBI single that scored Votto from second. Reynolds then stepped to the plate and opened up a 7-2 Louisville advantage by blasting a three-run home run into left center, his ninth of the year.

The Bats kept rolling as Jason Vosler drew a walk of his own before Robinson just missed his second home run of the inning, instead recording an RBI double that glanced off the top half of the center-field wall. Martini then brought Robinson home with an RBI single into right to cap off the eight-run inning with the Bats holding a 9-2 lead.

The Clippers managed to bring a run home in the bottom of the sixth before erupting for five more runs in the seventh to cut the Bats' lead down to one.

Louisville responded immediately in the top of the eighth with a pinch-hit RBI double from Andy Yerzy to score Martini, who had reached on a throwing error to lead off the inning.

The Clippers plated another run in the bottom of the ninth, but a groundout with the bases loaded gave Alan Busenitz (1-0, 1.80 ERA) his fourth save of the season and gave the Bats a 10-9 win.

Michael Mariot (1-0, 3.60 ERA) earned the victory in his first appearance with the Bats this season after being assigned to the club earlier on Saturday. The righty allowed five hits and two runs over 5.0 innings of work, tallying four strikeouts and two walks on the night.

Silvino Bracho (0-1, 4.19 ERA) entered the game after the Clippers put up six unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings, retiring all four batters he faced on the evening to stop the run and keep Louisville in front.

With the victory over Columbus, the Bats move to nine games over .500 for the first time since July 7, 2011.

The Bats will look to complete the series sweep tomorrow with RHP Randy Wynne (2-1, 4.70 ERA) taking the mound for Louisville, while fellow righty Cody Morris (0-0, 3.00 ERA) draws the start for the Clippers. First pitch on Sunday is set for 1:05 pm E.T. at Huntington Park.

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International League Stories from June 10, 2023


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