Louisville Bats Notes: June 2
June 2, 2018 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
EARN YOUR STRIPES: The Bats defeated the Gwinnett Stripers in the team's first-ever matchup since the Gwinnett Braves were renamed in the offseason. Louisville won its second straight game last night, winning 3-1 on a strong pitching performance from Justin Nicolino and a timely two-run single by Dilson Herrera in the bottom of the eighth. With the win, the Bats improve to 4-4 during their longest homestand of the season with 2 to go.
AGAINST GWINNETT: Louisville and Gwinnett traded home sweeps last season, with the Bats sweeping the G-Braves in 3 games at Louisville Slugger Field from May 30-June 1, and Gwinnett sweeping LOU 4-0 in Lawrenceville from August 10-13. The Bats' sweep of the G-Braves was the only series sweep for Louisville last season, outscoring them 15-9 in the home series. LOU last won the overall season series against GWN in 2016, going 4-3.
CONGRATS, HERNAN: Pinch-hitter Hernan Iribarren came through last night, recording his 400th career hit as a Louisville Bat, becoming just the sixth Louisville player all-time to reach 400 hits.
Louisville - All-Time Hit Leaders (Since 1982)
Player                                                                         Hits     Games Years with Louisville
Aaron Holbert                                                              471      501      1995-97, 2004-06
Kevin Barker                                                               455      460      1998-99, 2008-09
Gene Roof                                                                   441      382      1982-85
Bill Lyons                                                                     441      544      1982-88
Corky Miller                                                                 416      548      2001-04, 2009-14
HERNAN IRIBARRENÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 400Â Â Â Â Â Â 428Â Â Â Â Â Â 2014-pres.
ELUSIVE SERIES WIN: With a win tonight, the Bats would clinch their first series win since April 23-25, when they took two of three from the Charlotte Knights. Louisville owns a 2-11-2 record after 15 series this season, also taking two of three from the Columbus Clippers from April 9-11 at home.
BORN TO BE A STAR(TER): Louisville starting pitching has been excellent lately, with Justin Nicolino tossing the Bats' third quality start in a row, the first time that's happened all season. Starting pitchers have gone at least 6.0 innings in each of LOU's last 7 games, combining for a 3.21 ERA (17er/47.2ip) with 8 walks and 27 strikeouts, with the Bats going 4-3 in that span. Anthony DeSclafani, Robert Stephenson and Nicolino have thrown 3 straight quality starts, the first time LOU has accomplished that in over a year, when Rookie Davis, Jackson Stephens and Asher Wojciechowski tossed 3 straight quality starts from May 14-16, 2017.
SHAKEUP IN THE LEADOFF SPOT: The Bats have employed a new leadoff hitter in each of the last 2 games, with Hernan Iribarren (2-for-5) and Dilson Herrera (2-for-4, 2 RBI) occupying the lineup's top spot, respectively, in the team's last 2 wins. Friday night was Herrera's first start in the leadoff spot since July 31, 2016, his final start for the Las Vegas 51s, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for outfielder Jay Bruce .
WAITING FOR TONIGHT: A win tonight would guarantee the Bats' first series win since late April, and it would also tie their season-long, three-game winning streak set April 24-27 vs. Charlotte (4/24-4/25) and at Toledo (4/27), with a scheduled off day wedged in between.
PITCHERS BATTING STATS: Yesterday Justin Nicolino went 1-for-2 at the plate, recording his first hit since April 21, 2017 while playing for the New Orleans Baby Cakes against the Iowa Cubs. This season, Bats pitchers are batting .192 (5-for-26) at the dish with 2 doubles, one home run and 6 RBI. Brandon Finnegan 's homer at Indianapolis on May 21 was the first for a Louisville pitcher since Daryl Thompson 's on June 11, 2011 vs. Lehigh Valley.
WE LOVE JUNE:Â Yesterday's 3-1 win on June 1 was the first time the Bats started a month with a victory since last June 1, snapping a 5-game losing streak of "first game of month" games. June was also Louisville's best full month as a team last season by winning percentage, going 14-15 (.483), although they did go .500 in September with a 2-2 record. The Bats are looking to rebound from an 8-22 month of May, which tied their franchise record for most losses in a calendar month with the July 1991 and August 1993 Redbirds.
International League Stories from June 2, 2018
- Big Blasts by Dosch, Joseph Enough for Tides - Norfolk Tides
- Bats Extend Winning Streak with 3-1 Win - Louisville Bats
- Mud Hens Offense Explodes in First Inning - Toledo Mud Hens
- Adam Plutko Stamps Name in Record Books with No-No - Columbus Clippers
- Chiefs No-Hit by Adam Plutko Saturday Night - Syracuse Mets
- Holmes Deals as Indians Derail Scranton/W-B, 8-0 - Indianapolis Indians
- Pigs' Rally Falls Short against Toledo - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Stripers Stifled Again in Louisville - Gwinnett Stripers
- Bisons Use the Force in 9-2 Star Wars Night Win - Buffalo Bisons
- RailRiders Shut out in Indianapolis - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Ciuffo Shines in 5-3 Win over PawSox - Durham Bulls
- LHV Game Notes 6-2 - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Bulls Come from Behind to Top Pawtucket - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Knights Drop Game Two to Bisons 9-2 Saturday - Charlotte Knights
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (25-27) vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (25-28) - Indianapolis Indians
- Louisville Bats Notes: June 2 - Louisville Bats
- Durham Bulls Game Notes - Saturday, June 2, 2018 - Durham Bulls
- Bisons Game Notes - Charlotte at Buffalo (6:05 p.m. Star Wars Night) - Buffalo Bisons
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