IL Louisville Bats

Louisville Battles Back and Walks off Indianapolis, 7-6

August 30, 2022 - International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release


LOUISVILLE, KY- The Louisville Bats (52-72) walked off the Indianapolis Indians (62-60) on Tuesday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

Indianapolis wasted no time inking the scorecard, striking for five runs in the top of the first inning. The club combined for five hits in the inning with Kevin Padlo and Mason Martin each notching an RBI-single, and Jose Godoy coming through with a 2-RBI single out of the nine hole.

The Bats put their own crooked number on the board in the third inning. After Indianapolis starter Jerad Eickhoff (5-5, 4.62) walked the bases loaded, Louisville third baseman Spencer Steer roped a laser beam that bounced off of the top of the fence in front of the seats in left field for a 3-RBI double, just narrowly missing a grand slam. Eickhoff was able to stop the threat after the bases-clearing two-bagger, holding on to a 5-3 lead.

Indianapolis got one of the runs back in the top of the fifth when third baseman Diego Castillo hit a solo home run into the left field seats, giving Indy a 6-3 advantage.

Indianapolis threatened to add more in the sixth, but Louisville flame-throwing reliever Ricky Karcher was able to pitch out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam by inducing an infield pop out to first baseman Cristian Santana and a fly out to center fielder Lorenzo Cedrola.

With one out in the home half of the sixth, Cristian Santana singled and was immediately followed by a Juniel Querecuto double to set the stage for TJ Hopkins, who drew a walk to load the bases. The red-hot Leonardo Rivas came through for the Bats, knocking a seeing-eye single through the hole and into right field, bringing home a pair of runs and advancing Hopkins to third. Louisville backstop Michael Papierski grounded out to short in the next at-bat to bring home Hopkins and tie the game at 6-6.

Following the rough opening for Louisville, the bullpen was able to gain control of the game. Usual starter Deck McGuire (3-3, 6.36) entered the game for the rehabbing Ben Lively in the first inning and finished with 4.1 innings, scattering six hits and allowing two runs while whiffing five and walking two. Ricky Karcher, Jared Solomon, Dauri Moreta and Fernando Cruz all worked scoreless frames following McGuire to keep the Bats in the game.

Following an infield single in the top of the tenth, Louisville reliever Eddy Demurias made an excellent heads up play to field an attempted sacrifice bunt and go to third base for the force out, the first of a 1-5-3 double play. Demurias closed the door in the next at-bat, striking out shortstop Hoy Park.

In the home half, Spencer Steer softly grounded out to third base, effectively advancing the automatic runner to third with just one out. In his first game at Louisville Slugger Field as a Bat, right fielder Stephen Piscotty roped a high fly ball off the left center field wall for a walk-off base hit, sealing the unlikely comeback and giving Louisville the win, 7-6.

Game two of the six game series at Louisville Slugger Field will be tomorrow night (August 31) with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Raynel Espinal (5-6, 5.79) will get the start for the Bats, while Indy's starter has yet to be named.

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International League Stories from August 30, 2022


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