Ninth Inning Heroics Lead Bats To Walk-Off 2-1 Win
July 23, 2008 - International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
Louisville, KY - One night after delivering the go-ahead RBIs in the seventh inning, Alvin Colina topped his own act by hitting a walk-off double that scored Louisville's first two runs of the night, leading the Louisville Bats to a 2-1 victory over the Syracuse Chiefs on Wednesday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
With Ryan Hanigan at second and Shaun Cumberland at first with two outs, Colina, who had two hits on the night, sent a ball to left center field that was almost caught, but went just under the glove of Chiefs center fielder Wayne Lydon.
It was the Bats 11th win in their last 13 contests and just their second win of the season when trailing after eight innings. With the win, Louisville moved to 17 games over .500, the first time the franchise has reached such a mark since August 18th of 2003, when they were 73-56.
Both starting pitchers dominated during their time on the mound, as Syracuse starter Davis Romero retired the first eight batters he faced and didn't allow a runner to advance past first base in his six innings of work. In total, he allowed three singles and one walk and no runs, while striking out six in earning a no-decision.
Bats starter Ramon Ramirez was equally as effective, one-hitting the Chiefs until the sixth inning, when Russ Adams singled to right to score Chip Cannon, who had led off the inning with a walk. Syracuse continued to rally in the inning, as they had runners on second and third, but Ramirez was able to get out of the jam when he got Syracuse cleanup hitter Matt Watson to pop out and end the frame.
Despite getting a no-decision, Ramirez pitched well, going seven innings and only allowing three hits and one earned run. He walked two and struck out five, earning his sixth quality start of the season in nine attempts. It was the fourth consecutive start in which Ramirez has gone at least six innings.
In his second appearance of the season for the Bats, Carlos Fisher (2-0, 0.00) pitched two innings of scoreless to earn his second win.
Bryan Wolfe (1-1, 1.59), who pitched two scoreless innings before giving up the winning runs in the ninth, was tagged with the loss and a blown save for Syracuse.
Rob Mackowiak singled in the ninth inning to extend his hitting streak to 18 games, which is a new season-high for Louisville. It currently ranks as the longest active streak in the International League.
The Bats will conclude their eight-game homestand on Thursday evening with a 7:05PM game against the Chiefs at Louisville Slugger Field. LHP Adam Pettyjohn (9-4, 4.96), who leads the team in innings pitched, will throw for Louisville, while Syracuse will counter with RHP Mike MacDonald (1-2, 2.95).
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