IL1 Louisville Bats

Ervin Hits 2 Homers in 11-6 Bats Victory

Published on May 30, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


DURHAM, N.C. - The Louisville Bats (22-31) dominated the Durham Bulls (31-21) in the series finale on Thursday night, winning 11-6 to capture the series victory. Phillip Ervin hit two home runs for the second straight night, helping set a Louisville franchise record with its 12th multi-homer effort of the season.

Ervin got the party started in the top of the second, hammering an Arturo Reyes (3-1, 3.06) offering into the stands for the game's first run. The Durham right-hander went 5.2 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, one six hits and the homer, walking two and striking out four. The Bats led 4-0 before allowing the Bulls to tie it up 4-4 in the fourth inning, with one of the runs coming in the form of Brendan McKay's first career hit and home run at the Triple-A level.

Louisville starting pitcher Juan Martinez got the no-decision, giving up three earned runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out three in his first start of the season. Martinez was also the first left-hander to start on the mound for the Bats this season.

Both teams fell into an offensive lull in the middle innings, until Louisville took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth on an Aristides Aquino RBI single that scored Ervin, Aquino's third hit of the night. Louisville put the game away in the top of the ninth, tying a season-high by scoring six runs in the inning. Christian Colon singled in the first run of the inning, extending his team-high hitting streak to 11 games. Brian O'Grady followed with a two-run single to make it 8-4, before Phillip Ervin went deep for the second time on the night, and the fourth time in the last two games.

Ervin's blast made it an 11-4 game, and also supplied the team's 12th individual multi-homer performance this season, breaking a tie with the 1999 RiverBats for most in franchise history. Sal Romano (2-3, 5.28) got the win in relief for the Bats, giving up two runs in the bottom of the ninth and contributing 2.2 innings.

With the win, Louisville has won four of its last five games and earned its fifth series victory of the season with four coming on the road. The Bats and Bulls will not meet again this season.

The Bats travel to Norfolk, Virginia to face the Tides in a three-game weekend series before heading home for three against the Indianapolis Indians at Louisville Slugger Field. Tomorrow night's pitching matchup features Louisville right-hander Keury Mella (3-4, 5.36) pitted against Norfolk right-hander Tyler Herb (3-2, 5.06) with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. at Harbor Park.

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International League Stories from May 30, 2019


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