IL Louisville Bats

Elly de la Cruz's Walk-Off Home Run Carries the Bats Over Worcester

Published on May 30, 2023 under International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release


Louisville, KY - Elly De La Cruz blasted a walk-off two-run homer to propel the Louisville Bats (27-24) to a 5-4 series opener win against the Worcester Red Sox (25-27) on Tuesday evening at Louisville Slugger Field.

The Bats got to work early, scoring in the bottom of the first inning. After drawing a walk, Elly De La Cruz stole both second and third base. He later scored on a throwing error by Worcester's pitcher, giving Louisville an early lead of 1-0.

The WooSox answered quickly with a solo homer in the top of the next inning, tying the score up at 1-1.

Louisville threatened to retake the lead in the bottom of the third. Nick Martini was hit by a pitch, De La Cruz reached on a fielder's choice, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand drew a walk, but the Bats were unable to take advantage and stranded all three runners.

Worcester recorded its second solo homer of the game to surge ahead 2-1 in the top of the fifth.

Chuckie Robinson got a rally started for Louisville in the bottom of the seventh, reaching on Worcester's second throwing error of the game. With the bases loaded, Encarnacion-Strand walked to score Robinson from third. The following at bar, Matt Reynolds' a sac fly scored Lopez as the Bats regained a 3-2 kead.

The WooSox scored again in the top of the eighth, combining several walks and a wild pitch to even the score at 3-3. With a pair of doubles in the top of the ninth, Worcester regained the lead at 4-3.

Following a single by Alejo Lopez, De La Cruz crushed a two-run walk-off homer to bring the Bats to their fifth walk-off win of the year in a 5-4 victory. The win is Louisville's seventh straight series opening win, the club's longest streak since 2010 (eight games).

In his ninth start of the season and third start at home, lefthander Andrew Abbott threw a career-high seven innings, recording eight strikeouts and no walks for only two earned runs. Reliever Ricky Karcher tossed two strikeouts in the eighth, shutting down the WooSox lineup. Karcher has not allowed a run in his last 10 games.

The Bats will play game two of the series against Worcester on Wednesday, May 31 with the first pitch set for 6:35 pm E.T. Righthander Randy Wynne (1-1, 5.40) will get the nod in his 10th start for Louisville this season, facing WooSox lefty Brandon Walter (0-4, 6.80).

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