Crook Homers But Bats Undone by 5-Run First

June 24, 2021 - International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Bligh Madris and TJ Rivera launched back-to-back homers as part of a five-run first inning that propelled the Indianapolis Indians to a 6-2 win over the Louisville Bats Thursday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

Anthony Alford and Kevin Kramer each singled and scored in the first inning to put quickly put Indianapolis up 2-0. With a runner on and two outs, Madris deposited a pitch from Michael Mariot over the right-field wall to buffer the lead to 4-0, and Rivera followed with a solo shot that just barely snuck inside the left-field foul pole.

The Bats answered with a run in the first when Alejo Lopez extended his hit streak to 12 consecutive games with a single before coming all the way around and scoring on a sacrifice fly from Alfredo Rodriguez.

Lopez's 12-game hit streak is currently the longest active streak in Triple-A East and the seventh-longest streak overall in the league during the 2021 season.

The two clubs swapped runs in the fifth with an RBI double from Kevin Kramer and Narciso Crook going deep on his second homer of 2021.

The score held from there, however, as each team's pitching staff buckled down to author scoreless frames through the conclusion of the contest.

The Bats and Indians will square off Friday at 7 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field. Right-hander Riley O'Brien (2-2, 4.62 ERA) will take the bump for Louisville.

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