Game Notes: Gwinnett Stripers (4-2) at Louisville Bats (3-4)
April 11, 2019 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
Game 8, Home 1
Gwinnett Stripers (4-2) at Louisville Bats (3-4)
7:00 PM | Thursday, April 11, 2019 | Louisville Slugger Field
LISTEN: Nick Curran & Jim Kelch, 790 KRD; iHeartRadio.com; iHeart app
HOME OPENER: The Louisville Bats begin their celebration of 20 seasons at beautiful Louisville Slugger Field against the Gwinnett Stripers tonight with first pitch at 7 p.m. The Bats look to win their third game in a row after finishing off a seven-game road trip on a high note, winning 3 of their last 4 games and each of their last 2, taking a road series from the Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park. Right-hander Keury Mella, who tossed a quality start in his first outing of the season, takes the mound for Louisville against the top farm club of the Atlanta Braves.
AGAINST GWINNETT: It was a tale of two cities against the Stripers during the 2018 season, with Louisville recording the three-game series sweep at Louisville Slugger Field in early June, only to have Gwinnett return the favor in mid-July. In 77 total matchups between the clubs since the Richmond Braves relocated to Gwinnett to begin the 2009 season, the teams have been nearly dead-even, with Louisville owning a 39-38 advantage, including 21-16 at home.
HITTING LIKE A 'KING': Bats second baseman Josh VanMeter is batting .417 (10-for-24) through 7 games this season, mashing 4 home runs over his last 3 games, with 8 RBI and 2 doubles. He is the first Bat with at least 4 homers in a 3-game span since all-time minor league home run king Mike Hessman hit 4 in a 2-game span back in 2013, when he opened the season with back-to-back multi-homer games against the Toledo Mud Hens. VanMeter is tied with 3 other batters for the IL lead in home runs, and is tied with Scranton's Mike Ford for most total bases in the league with 24.
BEST WAY TO END A ROAD TRIP: The Bats defeated the Clippers on Wednesday by an 8-0 score, earning their first shutout win of the season while clinching their first series win of the 2019 campaign. The 8-0 dominance was the Bats' largest shutout victory by run differential in almost 3 years, when the Bats defeated the Norfolk Tides on the road by a 9-0 score. Last season, the Bats went 6-5 in 11 games in contests where a team failed to score a run.
COOL WHIP: Bats' pitchers have done an excellent job keeping runners off the bases, allowing just 3 hits in each of the last 2 games. It's the first time that Louisville pitching has allowed its opponent 3 or fewer hits in back-to-back games since May 1-2, 2016, when Louisville pitching surrendered just one and 3 hits, respectively, in wins over Durham and Norfolk at Louisville Slugger Field.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME?: Tonight against the Stripers, Louisville looks to snap a 4-game losing streak in home openers dating back to 2015. The last time the Bats won their first game at Louisville Slugger Field was April 10, 2014 against the Columbus Clippers.
Season Date/Opponent Score
2018 4/7 vs. Toledo L, 4-6
2017 4/6 vs. Columbus L, 2-3
2016 4/14 vs. Toledo L, 0-2
2015 4/9 vs. Toledo L, 0-13
2014 4/10 vs. Columbus W, 6-5
OUT OF DIVISION OPENER: Tonight's matchup against the IL South Gwinnett Stripers makes it the first time Louisville has opened up its home slate against a non-divisional opponent since the 2008 season, when the Bats played their first home game against the Pawtucket Red Sox on April 11, winning 8-5. Not only did the Bats open at home against the PawSox that year, but they also opened the season on the road with back-to-back series at Syracuse and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
International League Stories from April 11, 2019
- Indians Win Fourth Straight, Hammer Knights 7-3 - Indianapolis Indians
- Louisville Wins Home Opener against Gwinnett, 7-6 - Louisville Bats
- IronPigs Swing Their Way to Victory in Rochester - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Hens Score Four in Extras to Defeat Tides - Toledo Mud Hens
- Knights Fall to Indians 7-3 on Thursday Night - Charlotte Knights
- Stripers Drop Road Opener in Louisville, 7-6 - Gwinnett Stripers
- Bulls Fall 12-4 in Home Opener - Durham Bulls
- IronPigs swing their way to win in Rochester - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- IronPigs Top Wings in Home Opener - Rochester Red Wings
- Mets Late Rally Not Enough in 3-2 Loss to Red Sox - Syracuse Mets
- PawSox Victorious over Syracuse Mets in Home Opener - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (3-3) vs. Charlotte Knights (6-1) - Indianapolis Indians
- Game Notes: Gwinnett Stripers (4-2) at Louisville Bats (3-4) - Louisville Bats
- Vladdy Jr. Rejoins the Bisons - Buffalo Bisons
- Bisons Game Notes - Buffalo at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (7:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- Durham Bulls Game Notes - Durham Bulls
- Clutch Hits Lift Pigs to Victory - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Homestand Highlights: Stripers Host First Wet Nose Wednesday and Education Day - Gwinnett Stripers
- Louisville Bats Homestand Notes: April 11-18 - Louisville Bats
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