IL1 Louisville Bats

Louisville Bats Notes: August 17

Published on August 17, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


TODAY'S GAME: The Louisville Bats and Charlotte Knights meet for the second game of a four-game series today at BB&T Ballpark. Charlotte won the series opener last night by a 9-4 score, hitting 5 home runs against Louisville's bullpen. Top prospect, right-hander Michael Kopech struck out 9 batters in the Knights' win, handing Louisville its sixth straight loss which ties a season-high losing streak.

AGAINST CHARLOTTE: The Bats and Knights meet for a four-game series at BB&T Ballpark, the final out-of-division series for Louisville in 2018. In their last matchup back in late April, the Bats won 2 of 3 games, outscoring the top farm club of the Chicago White Sox by a narrow 10-7 advantage. In their last series, LOU won on a walk-off sacrifice bunt/E5 in the bottom of the 10th inning. Last season, Charlotte won 2 of 3 games at BB&T Ballpark over the Bats in the final series before the 2017 Triple-A All-Star break.

LOSING STREAK: The Bats have lost 6 games in a row for the second time in 2018. Their previous season-high 6-game losing streak occurred from May 1-6, losing 6 straight games vs. Columbus (5/1-5/2) and at Norfolk (5/3-5/6). In those 6 games, LOU was outscored 36-22. During their current 6-game losing streak, LOU has lost vs. Lehigh Valley (8/11-8/12), at Gwinnett (8/13-8/15) and at Charlotte yesterday. In their 6 most recent games, the Bats have been outscored 35-17.

-With a loss in their next game, the Bats would have their first 7+ game losing streak since May 10-17, 2017, when LOU lost 8 consecutive games. The Bats lost 8 straight vs. Norfolk (5/10), vs. Charlotte (5/11-5/14) and at Toledo (5/15-5/17). In those 8 games, LOU was outscored 56-23.

BRIAN'S SONG: Louisville first baseman/outfielder Brian O'Grady has been on a tear recently, going 3-for-3 with a hit by pitch last night, reaching base 4 times. In his first 25 games at the Triple-A level with Louisville this season, O'Grady is batting .318 (27-for-85) with 17 runs, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 16 RBI and a .920 OPS. Since August 10, he is batting .440 (11-for-25) in 7 games, tied for second-most hits in the IL in that span.

WOES IN THE SOUTH: The Bats fell to just 1-13 on the road against IL South teams this season, with three games left to play. LOU's lone road win against an IL South team this season came on May 18 at Norfolk, with the Bats winning 4-2 in the series opener.

FULL USE OF THE STAFF: The Bats used 6 different pitchers in last night's 9-4 loss, one shy of most pitchers used in a game for Louisville this season. After Major League rehabber Jackson Stephens tossed a scoreless first inning, relievers Brandon Finnegan, Jesus Reyes, Austin Brice, Kyle Crockett and Jimmy Herget all pitched out of the bullpen. Three of the five home runs that Charlotte hit came off Reyes, with one coming off both Brice and Herget.

1,000 K'S AT THE PLATE: The Bats' 1,000th strikeout as a team this season came on Michael Kopech 's strikeout of Louisville left fielder Nick Longhi , who was called out on strikes to end the top of the second inning. At 1,009 strikeouts this season, LOU has the fifth-most strikeouts as an offense. Last season, LOU's offense finished the season with 995 strikeouts at the plate, second-fewest in the IL. Only the Syracuse Chiefs (977) struck out fewer times than Louisville in 2017.

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