IL1 Louisville Bats

O'Grady Homers in 3-2 Loss to PawSoxs

Published on August 7, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville Bats (50-61) dropped the first of a three-game series with the Pawtucket Red Sox (52-60), 3-2, on Tuesday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

Pawtucket drew first blood in the second inning after Louisville committed a pair of fielding errors that allowed Jantzen Witte to move into scoring position before being driven home by an Oscar Hernandez single.

The Red Sox struck again in the third after Louisville right-handed starter Jose Lopez (5-10, 4.47) began the frame by hitting leadoff batter Rusney Castillo. Following the hit-by-pitch, the PawSox trio of Brandon Phillips, Sam Travis, and Josh Ockimey connected for three-consecutive singles, with Travis' plating Castillo and Ockimey's scoring Phillips.

Lopez was lifted after tossing 99 pitches (63 strikes) over five innings of work. The right-hander suffered his 10th loss of the season after giving up six hits, three runs (two earned), and walking one batter while striking out four.

The Bats scored their first run in the home-half of the third. Taylor Sparks led off with his third double of the season before advancing to third on a flyout by C.J. McElroy and then being driven home on a groundout by Brian O'Grady.

O'Grady drove in his second, and Louisville's final run of the game in the sixth after connecting with a 1-1 pitch that cleared the right-field fence. The homer was O'Grady's third of the season.

Jackson Stephens (1-1, 4.15), who is currently on rehab assignment for the Cincinnati Reds, relieved Lopez in the sixth and gave up one hit in an 18-pitch inning out of the bullpen. Domingo Tapia (3-5, 4.00) tossed a scoreless seventh while Austin Brice (1-0, 2.45) shutout the visitors in the eighth and ninth innings.

Right-hander Josh Smith (3-4, 4.30) picked up his third win after holding Louisville to two runs in seven innings from the mound. Bobby Poyner (0-0, 2.23) recorded his fourth save to close out the ninth.

The Bats and Red Sox will play the second of a three-game series on Wednesday. Left-hander Cody Reed (4-8, 4.06) is scheduled to get the starting nod for Louisville while Pawtucket lists right-hander and Ashland, Kentucky native Chandler Shepherd (6-7, 3.91) as its probable starter. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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