IL1 Louisville Bats

Norfolk wins in 11

Published on April 17, 2008 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


LOUISVILLE, KY -The Norfolk Tides saw a three-run lead disappear in the final two innings of the game Thursday night, as well as a one run lead in the 10th, but were able to pull it out in 11 innings and defeated the Louisville Bats 5-4, in front of 8,316 fans at Louisville Slugger Field.

The Bats started off on the right side of the scoreboard when first baseman Kevin Barker hit his first home run of the year into the right field seats giving the Bats an early 1-0 lead. For Barker it was his 47th home run in a Louisville uniform, which is second in franchise history behind Brandon Larson. Unfortunately for the Bats, that's all they could muster against Tides starting pitcher Craig Anderson.

Anderson (0-0 4.50) worked six innings giving up only three hits. He allowed just the one run by Barker while striking out five, without a walk. He kept Bats hitters off the base paths all night in his strongest outing of the season.

Louisville starting pitcher Adam Pettyjohn started out the game equally impressive as Anderson. Pettyjohn (1-0 5.12) pitched seven innings, giving up 6 hits and four runs. He also struck out five and walked only one. Pettyjohn started the game out retiring 10 of the first 12 batters he faced, but ran into some trouble in the fifth inning. Tides leftfielder Luis Terrero opened the inning on a single and later scored on a sacrafice fly by third baseman Mike Costanzo. With two outs in the inning, shortstop Alex Cintron reached on a walk and advanced to second on a single by Omir Santos. The next batter, Chris Roberson launched a three-run home run, his first of the year, which put the Tides up 4-1.

The Bats comeback started in the eighth against Tides reliever Alberto Castillo. Paul Janish sent a two-run home run to left field after Chris Dickerson reached on a fielder's choice, making the score 4-3. In the ninth, the Bats were able to get to Tides closer Bob McCrory, who blew the save, with a run on a sacrifice fly from Kevin Barker that scored Jolbert Cabrera. The Bats were aided in the inning by an error from Costanzo that could have ended the game on a double play ground ball. Instead, Cabrera moved to third and scored on the fly ball, tying the game at four and sending it to extra innings.

In the 10th inning, the Bats came back again after the Tides scored a run in the top half of the inning. Drew Anderson hit a two-out RBI triple off of Norfolk reliever Ryan Bukvich that scored Andy Green and tied the score at 5-5. The comeback effort fell short in the 11th inning as the Tides loaded the bases with no outs against Bats pitcher Scott Sauerbeck. Oscar Salazar then hit a two-run double, down the leftfield line, to win it 7-5. The Bats were able to score one run in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single from Chris Dickerson. But, that was all they could get against Tides reliever Roberto Novoa (0-0, 5.79). Novoa, picked up his first save of the year. Bukvich(1-0 4.50) who was credited with a blown save in the 10th, recorded the win while Sauerbeck(0-1 7.71) was hit with the loss for the Bats.

The Louisville Bats and Norfolk Tides complete the four-game series tomorrow night, April 18 at Louisville Slugger Field. RHP Justin Lehr(2-0 0.60) will take the mound for the Bats while RHP Hayden Penn(1-1 9.00) will throw for the Tides. First pitch is set for 7:05.

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International League Stories from April 17, 2008


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