IL1 Louisville Bats

Louisville's Bats Stay Hot in Charlotte

Published on May 16, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


FORT MILL, S.C.- Louisville (20-20) didn't win their 20th game last year until June 9, when they were 20-44. However the Bats got back to .500 for the season, recording a season-high 16 hits against the Knights on Wednesday. The Bats have now logged 10 or more hits in nine straight games, a span of which they are 6-3.

After snapping his seven-game hitting streak last night, Henry Rodriguez started a new streak on Wednesday by hitting a one-out double in the first inning, his tenth of the season. The Bats would keep him stranded.

Daniel Corcino threw a much-needed 1-2-3 first inning, striking out one batter. Corcino has struggled early in games this season, posting a 9.00 ERA in his first innings this season.

The Bats would break the game open in the second inning, as the first seven batters would reach bases safely. Mike Hessman hit a leadoff double, and was knocked in by Denis Phipps' double to get the Bats on the board. Emmanuel Burriss hit a bunt single down the first base line, advancing Phipps to third. Corky Miller followed with a RBI single down the right field line. The next pitch hit Kristopher Negron, loading the bases for Billy Hamilton with no outs. Hamilton singled to shallow left, to knock in his 12th RBI for the season, putting Louisville up 3-0. After and RBI single by Rodriguez, Felix Perez belted a two-run single down the right field line to run the score up to 6-0. All in all, the Bats sent 11 batters to the plate, recording seven hits and six runs in the second inning alone.

Perez entered Wednesday batting .340 in May and continued his torrid month going 3-for-4 with three RBI in the game, raising his season batting average to .317. Perez extended his current hitting streak to eight games, and now has a team high 44 hits and 25 RBI this season.

Several other Bats improved their current streaks in their offensive second inning; Hamilton extended his current hitting streaks to eight games, although he went just 1-for-6 in the game.

Phipps improved his hitting streak to six games, going 2-for-5 with two RBI. Hessman reached base safely in his 14th straight game, after recording his third three-hit game of the season.

The Knights would respond in the home half of the second. With two outs in the inning and a runner on first base, Corcino would walk Seth Loman and Mike McDade back-to-back, loading the bases. After an eight pitch at bat, Drew Garcia doubled off the right field wall, cutting the deficit to 6-2. Corcino would limit the damage, striking out Blake Tekotte to end the inning.

Hamilton and Rodriguez both grounded out to start the fourth, marking seven straight retired batters for the Bats. Louisville wouldn't concede the inning however, as Soto, Perez, Hessman and Phipps stroked four consecutive two-out hits. Soto got things started off with a double to right center field. Perez continued his RBI frenzy, singling in Soto. Hessman and Phipps each singled, knocking in Perez to extend the lead at 8-2.

After retiring the Knights in order in the third and fourth innings, Corcino allowed a leadoff double to Garcia in the fifth. The double was Garcia's second of the game, and he advanced to third base after a fly out to right field by Tekotte. Corcino would eliminate the Knights' threat, striking out Steve Tolleson and Brent Morel to end the inning. That would conclude Corcino's evening, who picked up his second win of the season, and first since April 29. Corcino finished with 5IP, 3H, 2R, 3BB and a season-high seven strikeouts.

With one out in the seventh Corky Miller belted a solo homerun to centerfield, his 48th career homerun as a Louisville Bat, increasing the lead to 9-2. The homerun was Miller's second of the season and first since April 7 against Toledo.

Mike MacDougal relieved Corcino to throw a perfect sixth inning, striking out two batters. MacDougal hit Loman to start the home half of the seventh inning. McDade followed with a single to start a potential rally for Charlotte. After a Garcia strikeout, Tekotte singled to cut the deficit to 9-3. However, MacDougal induced an inning ending double play off the bat off Angel Sanchez, to squelch the Knights' effort of cutting into the lead. MacDougal struck out three batters in his two innings of work, allowing one run.

Louisville turned to setup man Nick Christiani in the eighth inning, leading 9-3. Christiani struck out Morel to start the inning, but would get into trouble after hitting a batter and allowing a pair of singles to cut the score to 9-4. After another strikeout, Christiani would walk McDade to load the bases, forcing Coach Jim Riggleman's hand for a pitching change. Jose Diaz came in to face the hot-hitting Garcia. Garcia singled to centerfield, scoring two runs and bring the tying runner to the plate. Garcia is batting just .224 this season, but went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and four RBI in the game. Diaz was able to strikeout Tekotte, to keep the Bats up 9-6 heading to the ninth.

Diaz stayed on in the ninth inning to record the save. The Bats' bullpen combined to throw four innings, allowing four runs while striking out seven.

Louisville hasn't won a series in Charlotte since 2010, but has taken the first two games of the series. 2013 will be the 24th and final season for Charlotte at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, as they plan a move to the new BB&T Ballpark in 2014. The Bats will face the Knights on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. in the third out of a four game series. Probable starting pitchers are Louisville's Chad Reineke (3-2, 3.72) and Charlotte's Jason Berken (2-3, 3.59).

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