IL1 Louisville Bats

Lehr, Bats Roll With The Tides, 3-1

Published on June 18, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


Louisville, KY - The Louisville Bats moved a season-high six games over .500, knocking off the Norfolk Tides 3-1 tonight in front of 9,164 fans at Louisville Slugger Field. The win allowed the Bats to take three games out of four from the Tides and secure their 20th victory at home this season.

The Bats jumped on the scoreboard right away. Danny Richar hit a 3-2 pitch into the right field bleachers for his first lead-off-home run of the season to give the Bats a 1-0 lead.

Norfolk knotted the score at one in the top of the third inning. Following two quick outs, Joey Gathright doubled to left, then Justin Christian smacked a double over the head of left fielder Danny Dorn to knock home Gathright. Christian advanced to third on a throwing error by Dorn but was left stranded as Jeff Fiorentino struck out swinging.

Louisville re-captured the lead with two runs in the bottom half of the third. With one out, Richar doubled down the right field line and Drew Stubbs drew a walk. Then, with Drew Sutton batting, Tides' starter Chris Tillman was called for a balk, which allowed Richar to score and Stubbs to move to second. Sutton then lined a single to center, scoring Stubbs, but was thrown out trying to advance to second on the throw home.

Richar finished the game 2-for-4 with a home run while Stubbs finished 0-for-3 with a walk, snapping his nine-game hit streak.

Justin Lehr (9-2, 3.74) who entered the game leading the International League in wins, added to that total tonight. Lehr threw six strong innings allowing one run, scattering seven hits, walking one, and striking out four. The quality start was the Bats tenth in the last seventeen games and the team improved to 14-3 over that stretch.

Chris Tillman (5-4, 2.55) who entered the season as the number two overall prospect and number one pitching prospect in the Baltimore Orioles organization was pinned with the loss. Tillman was acquired from the Mariners' organization in the Erik Bedard trade in February of 2008. He went six innings allowing three runs, four hits, walked two and struck out four.

Bats' relievers Jeff Kennard and Pedro Viola threw scoreless innings to get the ball to Robert Manuel who notched his fifth save in six chances.

The Bats stay home over the weekend welcoming the Gwinnett Braves to town starting tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. on Southern Indiana Night at Louisville Slugger Field. Starting for the Bats will be Sam LeCure (4-5, 5.61) and Todd Redmond (3-5, 4.88) will get the ball for the Braves.

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International League Stories from June 18, 2009


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