Louisville Storms Back to Snap Losing Streak in Walk-Off Win, 9-8
Published on June 29, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Los Murciélagos de Louisville (29-51) defeated Los Veleros de Columbus (49-31) by a score of -9-8 in the second game of La Copa de la Diversión at Louisville Slugger Field. The win ends a nine-game losing streak and is the first Louisville victory when trailing after eight innings this season.
Columbus started strong, scoring two runs in the top of the first. But Louisville responded quickly, using three doubles courtesy of Christian Colon, Josh VanMeter, and Nick Longhi to score three runs and take the lead in the bottom half of the inning. With VanMeter's hit, he extended his hitting-streak to seven games, tying his season-high.
Louisville starter Lucas Sims (4-0, 5.24) had an uncharacteristically poor start, surrendering four more runs in the second inning to Columbus. Los Murciélagos relievers took over in the fourth and collectively only allowed four hits and two runs to keep the score close.
Los Murciélagos would get back in the game in the fifth, playing small ball to score three and tie the game at six. Louisville only got two singles in the inning but used two walks and two wild pitches to plate the runs. The tie would be short lived, as Eric Haase hit a solo homerun off Jackson Stephens in the sixth to steal back the lead. Los Murciélagos tried to take back the lead in the seventh, but Columbus pitcher Josh Smith struck out three in a row with the bases loaded to escape the inning.
Louisville loaded the bases again in the bottom of the eighth only to strike out two more times, again unable to tally any runs. But they would keep the pressure on, and Los Murciélagos finally scored in the ninth off a solo shot from Brian O'Grady, then Sherman Johnson scored Nick Longhi to tie the game at eight. Louisville would again load the bases, but this time would be different, as Narciso Crook came inches from hitting a walk-off grand slam but did more than enough to secure the final run in the Murciélagos victory. Columbus pitcher Neil Ramirez (2-1, 5.19) would get the loss, and Louisville reliever Joel Kuhnel (1-0, 2.08) earned his first win.
Los Murciélagos finish off the three-game series with Los Veleros on Sunday in the deciding game of La Copa de la Diversión weekend. It will be a righty versus righty matchup, with Vladimir Gutierrez (2-6, 6.87) toeing the rubber for Louisville and Shao-Ching Chiang (5-5, 4.99) taking the mound for Columbus. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.
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