IL1 Louisville Bats

Game Notes: Louisville Bats (44-64) at Columbus Clippers (61-46)

July 31, 2019 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


Game 109, Away 55

Louisville Bats (44-64) at Columbus Clippers (61-46)

RHP Keury Mella (7-10, 4.55) vs. RHP Mitch Talbot (2-3, 6.25)

7:05 PM | Wednesday, July 31, 2019 | Huntington Park

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

TONIGHT'S GAME: Louisville travels to Columbus for a two-game set before returning home for a weekend series. The Bats had their season-high winning streak of 4 games snapped yesterday, and look to get back on track with right-hander Keury Mella on the mound, who will try to throw his fifth straight quality start. Louisville comes into play with a 22-32 record both at home and on the road, and will try to win their sixth road series and 10th overall.

AGAINST COLUMBUS: The Bats and Clippers meet for the first time since a four-game series leading into the All-Star break from July 4-7 at Huntington Park. Since that series, LOU has played its best stretch of baseball this season, going 11-8 after the All-Star break and winning 4 of its last 5 games. LOU still has 10 scheduled games left against Columbus coming into play Wednesday, the most of any club.

TRANSACTIONS: The Bats added to their 25-man roster RHP Sal Romano, who was optioned by the Reds on July 28, and OF Rob Refsnyder, who was activated off the 7-day injured list. Romano appeared in one game for Cincinnati on July 23 at Milwaukee (3.0ip, 3h, 1er, 1bb, 2k). Refsnyder, who went on the IL with a right hamstring strain on July 8, appeared in 2 games with the AZL Reds on rehab assignment before being activated by the Bats today.

- In corresponding moves, IF Sherman Johnson was released and RHP Alex Powers was placed on the 7-day injured list. Johnson was on Louisville's Opening Day roster and had spent the entire season with the Bats, batting .241 (49-for-203) in 71 games, collecting 4 HR and 15 RBI, including a 2-homer game on April 26 vs. Norfolk.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Right fielder Aristides Aquino recorded the franchise's second-longest hitting streak (since 1982), a 22-game streak from May 23-June 19. He comes into play Wednesday with an active 9-game hitting streak, trying to become the first Bat with separate 10+ game streaks in the same season since Hernan Iribarren did it in 2016. On his way to winning an IL batting title that season, Iribarren recorded a 14-game streak (4/24-5/18) and a 15-game streak (7/2-7/21).

SO CLOSE: The Bats failed to win their second consecutive series sweep with a 3-2 loss at Toledo on Tuesday night. The loss drops Louisville to 13-25 (.342) in 38 one-run games this season, which are tied for most in the league with Indianapolis. LOU's winning percentage in one-run games ranks last in the league, with a much-improved 31-39 (.443) record in non one-run games.

WINNING MONTH: Despite yesterday's loss, Louisville is guaranteed a winning month of July, with a 14-12 record going into the final day. LOU last recorded an above-.500 record in a month in July 2018, when they went 16-12.

BLAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO: Shortstop Blake Trahan homered for the second straight night, bringing his season total to 5 on the season. The 5 homers set a new career-high for Trahan, who hit 4 with the Advanced-A Daytona Tortugas in 2016. All 5 of his homers have come in the month of July, despite coming into it without ever hitting multiple homers in a calendar month.

ON PACE TO SET TEAM HR RECORD: Louisville has now hit 140 home runs through 108 games, on pace for approximately 181 home runs, which would shatter the current club record of 166 homers hit by the 1999 RiverBats. Last season, LOU finished with 113 homers in 137 games.

Check out the Louisville Bats Statistics



International League Stories from July 31, 2019


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