De la Cruz Propels Bats to 10-9 Walk off Victory Over Columbus
May 9, 2023 - International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release
LOUISVILLE, KY -- Elly De La Cruz launched two home runs to propel the Louisville Bats (14-19) 10-9 over the Columbus Clippers (16-17) for a walk off win on Tuesday night.
After a quiet start to the game, the Clippers were first to put runs on the board, scoring five runs on four walks and three hits in the top of the third inning to take a 5-0 lead.
Louisville responded with a run of its own in the home half of the third. Will Benson drew a one out walk to get the inning going before stealing second in the following plate appearance to get into scoring position. Elly De La Cruz took advantage and roped a double into the left field corner to put the Bats on the board, down 5-1.
Columbus tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 7-1.
The Bats would once again respond in the following frame. Michael Siani led off the inning with a line drive triple to right field and immediately followed by a Will Benson walk. Siani would cross the plate on a ground ball double play to end the inning, cutting into the Columbus lead, 7-2.
Columbus continued to score, putting up another two runs in the fifth. In the following frame, Reds top prospect Elly De La Cruz launched a towering home run over the left field wall to lead off the inning. With two outs and two men on, Siani and Chuckie Robinson recorded back-to-back RBI singles to put two more runs on the board and trim the Clippers' lead down to 9-5.
With one out in the sixth inning, De La Cruz stepped to the plate and unleashed his second home run of the game, his fifth of the season, to add on one more run to further cut away at the lead, now down 9-6.
Still down three in the bottom of the ninth, McLain led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a solo shot over the left field wall, his team leading 10th homer of the year. With two outs and two runners in scoring position, Robinson dropped in a bloop single to bring home two runs and tie the game 9-9. Brian Rey followed suit with a double and Benson drew his third walk of the game to load the bases for De La Cruz who showed patience at the plate and drew a four pitch walk to bring home the winning run and secure the 10-9 walk off win for the Bats.
Louisville and Columbus will play game two of the series tomorrow morning, Wednesday, May 10th, with first pitch set for 11:05 pm E.T. Lefty Brandon Williamson (1-4, 7.52) will take the mound for the Bats, facing off against right-hander Gavin Williams (2-0, 0.73) for the Clippers.
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