IL1 Louisville Bats

Game Notes: Louisville Bats (20-30) at Durham Bulls (30-19)

Published on May 28, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


Game 51, Away 24

Louisville Bats (20-30) at Durham Bulls (30-19)

RHP Jose Lopez (2-3, 6.34) vs. LHP Brendan McKay (NR w/DUR)

7:05 PM | Tuesday, May 28, 2019 | Durham Bulls Athletic Park

LISTEN: Nick Curran, 790 KRD; iHeartRadio.com; iHeart app

THE CHURCH OF BASEBALL: The Louisville Bats travel to Durham Bulls Athletic Park coming off back-to-back thrilling comeback victories at home against the Toledo Mud Hens. Louisville will face off against University of Louisville product Brendan McKay, with the left-handed starting pitcher set to make his Triple-A debut for the Bulls.

AGAINST DURHAM: The Bats start off a 6-game road trip and a stretch of 10 road games in their next 13 tonight against the Durham Bulls. Louisville and Durham will meet for the final time in 2019 this go-around, with the Bats making their first road stops to the IL South Division with back-to-back series against Durham and Norfolk.

I GOT CHILLS, THEY'RE MULTI-BRIAN: First baseman Brian O'Grady continued what has been one of Minor League Baseball's most impressive seasons, going 3-for-5 with 2 more home runs on Monday, his 13th and 14th of the season, surpassing Josh VanMeter for the team lead. O'Grady's fourth multi-homer game of the season ties VanMeter for most on the team this year, with the pair already tied for third-most all-time in franchise history.

8x8: O'Grady has 8 home runs over his last 8 games, with 3 multi-HR efforts, including a 3-homer game in that span. Earlier this season, VanMeter hit 8 homers over a 9-game span, which also included 3 multi-HR efforts and a 3-homer game.

April Powers Bring May Powers?: O'Grady is putting up a serious case for Louisville's second straight IL Player of the Month Award, after VanMeter took home the honors for April. In the second month of the season, O'Grady is tied for the IL lead in home runs (10) and stolen bases (7), and ranks second in SLG (.764) and OPS (1.154).

THRIVE DOWN FIVE: The Bats trailed 5-0 in their Memorial Day matchup against Toledo at Louisville Slugger Field, before roaring back with a 6-run bottom of the sixth, tacking on 4 more runs to win a 10-6 game and earn their second straight comeback victory. It was the largest Louisville comeback since August 20, 2016, when LOU trailed Indianapolis 5-0 after the top of the first before coming back to win by an 11-7 score.

IN THE BIG INNING...: The Bats set their new season-high for most runs scored in an inning back on Sunday, scoring 6 runs in the bottom of the fourth in the 7-5 win. The very next day, Louisville matched that output, tallying 6 runs in the sixth on Monday to take a 6-5 lead and eventually win 10-6, making it their ninth comeback win of the year.

TRANSACTIONS: The Cincinnati Reds selected RHP Lucas Sims to start tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 9 starts for Louisville this season, Sims is 3-0 with a 4.06 ERA (20er/44.1ip), walking 16 and leading the league with 63 strikeouts. OF Phillip Ervin joined Louisville yesterday after being optioned by the Reds, making the move Louisville's 50th transaction yesterday on the same day of its 50th game.

REFRESHING: Designated hitter Rob Refsnyder tied his own team-high hitting streak on Monday, extending the run to 8 games, with Christian Colon also reaching an 8-game hit streak yesterday. Refsnyder also carries a 5-game multi-hit streak into play Tuesday, the longest string of 2+ hit games for a Louisville player since Nick Senzel had 7 straight from June 9-16 last season.

- In addition to Refsnyder and Colon, O'Grady (6), Aristides Aquino (5) and Blake Trahan (5) all carry individual season-high hitting streaks coming into play today.

UOFL CARD: LHP Brendan McKay is set to become the third University of Louisville product to start on the mound against the Bats this season, joining Toledo's Kyle Funkhouser (4/4, 4/30) and Norfolk's Josh Rogers (4/26). McKay will be the first Louisville Cardinal to make his Triple-A debut against the Bats since Charlotte RHP Zack Burdi in a relief app on Aug. 11, 2016.

THE ANIMAL: Bats right-hander Wendolyn Bautista pitched effectively on Monday, recording a 3-inning save in relief of Vladimir Gutierrez to secure the win. It was the Bats' first 3-inning save since Tanner Rainey did it on Sept. 2 last season in a 10-2 win vs. Indianapolis.

THE ODD-EVEN ANOMALY: Through 50 games this season, the Bats have been outscored in each of the "odd" innings (1-3-5-7-9-11), but have outscored their opponents in each of the "even" innings (2-4-6-8-10). LOU's worst inning by run differential has been the 1st (-33) and its best inning has been the 6th (+14).

Check out the Louisville Bats Statistics

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