IL1 Louisville Bats

Louisville Bats Notes: July 15

Published on July 15, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


TONIGHT'S GAME: Louisville looks to avoid the four-game sweep against Columbus tonight at Louisville Slugger Field. The Bats were last swept in their first series following the All-Star break in 2014, when the Toledo Mud Hens won 5 straight against the Louisville to open the second half as part of an 8-game losing streak for the Bats. Right-hander Jose Lopez looks to make it 3 quality starts in a row as LOU looks to avoid their second four-game sweep this season (May 3-6 at Norfolk).

AGAINST COLUMBUS: The Bats and Clippers meet for the fifth of seven overall series this season and the final one at Louisville Slugger Field. Sunday marks the the final game between these teams at LSF this season. The Clip Show has held a 9-4 edge through the teams' first 13 meetings at Louisville's home ballpark, while LOU took 2 of 3 from Columbus at Huntington Park. Through 16 total matchups this season, Columbus has outscored the Bats 87-84, knotted at 81 runs apiece before Sunday's ballgame.

GET BACK: The Bats dropped to a season-worst 18 games below the .500 mark with Saturday's 6-3 loss, their third consecutive loss to the Columbus Clippers. Louisville had not been 17 games below the .500 mark since they owned a 16-33 record after May 30, before rattling off a season-high 5 wins in a row. Last season, the Bats fell to 18 games below .500 for the first time when they were 33-51.

WORKING HARD TO GET MY PHIL: Left fielder Phillip Ervin went 2-for-4 with a double last night, his sixth multi-hit game in July. For the month, he's batting .366 (15-for-41) with 3 runs, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 14 RBI and 4 walks, with his 14 RBI ranking second to only Columbus' Eric Haase (19) in the month.

EVERYBODY WANTS A THRILL: After dropping the first 2 games of the series after leading at some point in the game, the Bats made their best effort to flip the script on the Clippers last night, falling behind 3-0 before coming back and tying the game 3-3 in the sixth, before ultimately losing by a 6-3 score. It was the first time LOU trailed by 3 runs and came back to tie it since July 1 at Toledo, when LOU earned its biggest comeback win of the season after trailing 3-0 and winning 9-6.

MILESTONE HITS: Hernan Iribarren made history Thursday night as part of a 3-for-4 night. With his second single of the night, he moved into sole possession of 5th place on Louisville's all-time hits list, passing Corky Miller. His third of the night was his 1,500th career hit as a professional, accumulating 1,481 career hits as a minor leaguer and 19 in the Majors.

GOOD COMPANY: Iribarren currently ranks third among active players for most career hits in Minor League Baseball. All 3 members of the top three have played for the Louisville Bats at some point in their career. Jason Bourgeois ' (2014-15 with LOU) 1,763 career minor league hits pace active players, while Irving Falu 's (2015 with LOU) 1,646 hits ranking second, and Iribarren's (2014-18 with LOU) 1,483 ranking third.

WELCOME TO THE PALINDROME: The Bats' palindromic record of 35-53 marks the first time they have owned a record that reads the same backwards since they were 12-21 after a loss on May 13 vs. Toledo.

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International League Stories from July 15, 2018


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