IL1 Louisville Bats

Homers lead Bats to 7-6 victory over Indians

Published on August 17, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


Louisville, KY - The Louisville Bats began a six-game, home-and-home series this evening by defeating the Indianapolis Indians 7-6 on a night where every player in the Bats starting lineup had a hit. The Bats were powered by a pair of fifth inning home runs by Luis Bolivar and newly called up Bat, Juan Francisco. The game was played at Louisville Slugger Field in front of 7,458 fans.

Travis Wood started the game for the Bats and was roughed up off the get go. Through the first three innings, Wood had given up three runs, seven hits (five of which were in the second), and two walks. He recovered by not allowing a hit for the next three innings before exiting the game.

Wood (3-1, 2.93) picked up the win by tossing six innings, while surrendering seven hits, three runs, two walks, and striking out two batters.

Virgil Vasquez started and took the loss for the Indians. Vasquez (7-3, 4.10) pitched six innings, giving up 10 hits, five runs, two walks, while striking out four.

The Indians got on the board first tonight in the top of the second inning. Tagg Bozied led off the inning with a double. Erik Kratz came up with one out and hit his eighth home run of the year, giving the Indians a 2-0 lead.

The Bats responded in their half of the second with a couple runs of their own. Wes Bankston drew a one-out walk, followed by a double by Danny Dorn, putting runners on second and third with one-out. They were subsequently knocked in on a two-run double by Chris Valaika, tying the score at 2-2.

The Indians were able to gain the lead again in the top of the third. Brian Myrow led off the inning with a triple. Jeff Clement followed Myrow with a walk, putting runners on the corners with none out. Bozied then grounded into a five-four-three double play, scoring Myrow, putting the Indians ahead 3-2.

The game remained 3-2 in favor of the Indians until the bottom of the fifth. Bolivar led off with a 400-foot line drive bomb to left field, his fifth of the year, tying the score at three. Chris Heisey then singled, and was followed up by Francisco's first Triple-A home run, a 420-foot blast to dead center field, giving the Bats their first lead of the game, 5-3.

The Bats played add-on in the bottom of the seventh. Bankston drew a one-out walk and was advanced to third on a two-out ground rule double by Valaika. Chris Denove then singled to right field, scoring both runners, making it a 7-3 game.

The Indians were able to get a couple back in the top of the eighth. Jeff Clement led off with a walk, followed by a single by Bozied. Neil Walker doubled, scoring Clement, and advancing Bozied to third. Bozied subsequently scored on a passed ball by catcher, Denove, making it a 7-5 game. The Bats were able to strand Walker at third with back-to-back strikeouts by relievers Enerio Del Rosario and Pedro Viola.

In the top of the ninth, Pedro Lopez singled and advanced to second on defensive indifference with two outs. Clement singled, scoring Lopez, making it a 7-6 game. Clement, the tying run, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Bats' reliever, Logan Ondrusek. Ondrusek then struck out Bozied to end the game, picking up his sixth save of the season.

The Bats and the Indians will lock up in game two of the series tomorrow at Louisville Slugger Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. The Bats will send LHP Matt Maloney (8-8, 3.02) to the hill and he will be countered by RHP Eric Hacker (5-5, 3.49) for the Indians.

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International League Stories from August 17, 2009


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