IL1 Louisville Bats

Quick Start Helps Bats Topple Iron Pigs 6-3

Published on May 9, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release


ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Louisville Bats used a four-run first inning and a solid pitching performance to help catapult them to a 6-3 victory over the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs in Allentown, Pennsylvania. With the win, Louisville goes to 4-3 on their current road trip, an eight-game stretch that ends tomorrow with the last game of the season between these two squads.

Louisville stormed out of the gates with a four- run barrage off Iron Pigs' starter Zach Minor, reeling off five hits and sending eight men to the plate in the first inning. Henry Rodriguez ignited the rally with a double to left that was followed by a pair of singles before Ryan Hanigan stepped in. The Reds catcher, who was playing in the second game of his injury rehab, drove in a pair of runs with his own single that gave the Bats a 3-0 edge.

Kristopher Negron added to the first inning flurry with another RBI single that scored Hanigan, and Louisville enjoyed four-run cushion before starting pitcher Greg Reynolds (3-0, 2.98) even took the mound.

Reynolds was solid all night, fanning eight over seven innings and giving up only a pair of runs. Reynolds also earned a quality start and matched today's strikeout total against Lehigh Valley two weeks ago when the teams met in Louisville. The 8 Ks are Reynolds' season-high. The right-hander hasn't lost in six starts, and his three victories match the team lead.

After an Iron Pigs' solo home run by Cody Asche in the sixth inning tightened the contest to 4-2, Louisville answered back in the seventh. Felix Perez's two-run single capped a string of three straight hits and pushed the Louisville lead back to four. Although Perez was thrown out at second trying to advance after the hit, he finished with three RBIs, his most since a 4-RBI night during an April win over Columbus. His 18 RBIs this season lead the team.

The Bats racked up a total of 13 hits on the night, with five players registering multi-hit games. Hanigan, Henry Rodriguez, Neftali Soto, and Manny Burriss all added a pair of hits. Hanigan is now 3-for-6 in his two games with the Bats. He also threw out the Iron Pigs' only potential base stealer.

Although Louisville had a pair of defensive miscues that got them into some trouble early, they also made a few timely defensive plays, cutting down two runners at the plate, including an outfield assist from Josh Fellhauer.

Clay Hensley and Kevin Whelan pitched the final two innings for Louisville.

If the rain holds off tomorrow, Louisville and Lehigh Valley will close out the season series with an early start, with first pitch scheduled for 10:35AM ET. Pedro Villearreal (0-2, 4.68) will be on the bump for the Bats, and the Iron Pigs will counter with former Louisville pitcher Tom Cochran (0-0, 3.60).

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International League Stories from May 9, 2013


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