Game Notes: Louisville Bats (47-67) at Lehigh Valley IronPigs (54-58)
August 7, 2019 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
Game 115, Away 58
Louisville Bats (47-67) at Lehigh Valley IronPigs (54-58)
RHP Sal Romano (4-7, 4.55) vs. RHP Dan Straily (0-1, 10.80)
7:05 PM | Wednesday, August 7, 2019 | Coca-Cola Park
LISTEN: Nick Curran, 790 KRD; iHeartRadio.com; iHeart app
TONIGHT'S GAME: Louisville will try to tie the series against the top farm club of the Philadelphia Phillies with right-hander Sal Romano set to make his fifth start of the season. LOU will try to snap its three-game losing streak after winning 7 of their previous 8 games before the recent skid. Romano has allowed just one run in 15.0 innings as a starter this season, good for an ERA of 0.60.
AGAINST LEHIGH VALLEY: Louisville and Lehigh Valley met for the first time all season on Wednesday night, with the Bats dropping a 5-4 ballgame to fall to 1-8 at Coca-Cola Park since 2017. Interestingly, in a game against the IronPigs last season on August 11 at Louisville Slugger Field, the Bats lost by a run in a game in which they led by 3, just like yesterday.
ON PACE TO SET TEAM HR RECORD: Louisville has hit 149 home runs through 114 games, on pace for 183 home runs, which would easily surpass the current club record of 166 homers hit by the 1999 RiverBats. Last season, LOU finished with 113 homers in 137 games. With its next homer, LOU would have its fifth season with 150+ home runs in franchise history, and first since the 2010 Bats finished with 160.
THEY GROW UP SO FAST: Current Reds teammates Aristides Aquino and Brian O'Grady still have the most combined home runs among all International League pairings, with 55 homers between the two. Aquino has 28 HR with the Bats this season, and O'Grady has 27 HR.
HR Players Club
55 Aquino/O'Grady LOU
54 Bradley/Haase COL
53 Duvall/Jackson GWN
TRANSACTIONS: On Wednesday, the Bats added RHP Brad Boxberger and IF Alfredo Rodriguez to their 25-man roster. Boxberger was cut loose by the Nationals organization on Monday after making 8 apps (1-1, 1.04 ERA, one save) with Class AA Harrisburg. He began the season in Kansas City, making 29 apps (1-3, 5.40, one save) with the Royals before getting released on July 1.
- Boxberger was drafted by the Reds in the first round (43rd overall) in 2009, making 25 apps for the Bats in 2011. He went 1-2 with a 2.93 ERA (9er/27.2ip) and 7 saves. On December 17, 2011, the right-hander was traded to San Diego, along with 1B Yonder Alonso, C Yasmani Grandal and RHP Edinson Volquez in exchange for RHP Mat Latos.
- IF Alfredo Rodriguez was transferred from Class AA Chattanooga. The 25-year-old prospect was batting .286 (117-for-409) with 50 runs, 18 doubles, 2 triples, one home run, 25 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 104 games for the Lookouts.
TOUGH LOSS: The Bats led 4-1 after a three-run top of the fifth inning, with Mitch Nay, Nick Longhi and Christian Colon all singling in the frame. The lead was short-lived, however, as veteran slugger Logan Morrison blasted his 18th IL homer of the season in the bottom of the inning, with the IronPigs eventually winning 5-4. With the loss, the Bats fell to 30-27 when scoring first in ballgames.
- Last season, LOU finished last in the IL in winning percentage (.609) when scoring first with a 42-27 record. The Bats also fell to 13-26 (.333) in one-run games this season, which ranks last in the IL. LOU has not finished a season ranking last in that category since at least 2007.
BLANDY: Shortstop Alex Blandino went 2-for-4 with a double last night, hitting safely in 9 of his last 10 games. In 10 apps since July 27, he leads the Bats with a .361 (13-for-36) average, hitting one home run with 5 RBI and 7 walks.
REFFIN' IT: Outfielder Rob Refsnyder went 2-for-4 with his ninth home run of the season, a solo shot in the second inning to give the Bats a 1-0 lead. Since coming off the 7-day injured list on July 31, he is batting .318 (7-for-22) with a pair of doubles and home runs.
International League Stories from August 7, 2019
- Bats Fall to IronPigs, 2-1 - Louisville Bats
- Gwinnett Rallies for 4-3 Win at Rochester - Gwinnett Stripers
- Wild Pitch in 8th decides game for Pigs - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Stripers Rally to Top Wings - Rochester Red Wings
- RailRiders fall with All-Star Gary Sanchez rehabbing in the lineup - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Bisons Power Way to 7-2 Win against Toledo - Buffalo Bisons
- Knights Blast Past RailRiders 12-2 - Charlotte Knights
- Schwindel Rakes as Toledo Falls to Buffalo - Toledo Mud Hens
- Dalbec Records Two Hits in 4-3 Loss - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Oswalt Ties Career High with Nine Strikeouts, But Mets Get No-Hit in 2-1 Loss to Bulls - Syracuse Mets
- Durham No-Hits Syracuse in 2-1 Win - Durham Bulls
- First-Ever Plates Bobble Fork Giveaway Thursday - Rochester Red Wings
- Red Wings Set Franchise Record for Home Runs in a Season - Rochester Red Wings
- Indians and Tides Rained out in Norfolk - Indianapolis Indians
- Tides and Indianapolis Rained Out - Norfolk Tides
- Gary Sanchez to Rehab with SWB RailRiders - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (56-57) at Norfolk Tides (45-68) - Indianapolis Indians
- Bisons Game Notes - Buffalo at Toledo (7:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- Game Notes: Louisville Bats (47-67) at Lehigh Valley IronPigs (54-58) - Louisville Bats
- Rochester Hustlers Rescheduled for September 1 - Rochester Red Wings
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
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