Bats win home opener on walk-off

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville Bats (4-2) were victorious on Opening Night at Louisville Slugger Field Thursday on a walk-off infield single to defeat the Columbus Clippers (1-6), 6-5.

The game was locked at five runs apiece heading into the bottom of the ninth when second baseman Ruben Gotay got things rolling for the Bats as he stretched a base knock into a double, narrowly beating the throw. A bunt from right fielder Felix Perez advanced Gotay to third, who would then score as third baseman Chris Nelson reached first base safely on an infield hit and secured the Opening Night win.

Righty Josh Smith started for the Bats and went five innings. Smith fanned seven Clippers and allowed five hits, three walks and two earned runs. He took the no decision in his first start of the year.

For Columbus, right-hander Josh Tomlin went six innings and also took the no decision. He struck out three, walked four and surrendered five hits and two earned runs.

Left fielder Mike Wilson provided fans with the first home Bats Blast of the year when he took Tomlin deep to left-center field to start the second inning, tying the game at 2-2.

The game would remain tied until the bottom of the seventh inning when Perez dropped a single into right-center field, scoring center fielder Ryan LaMarre and advanced Gotay to third base. Gotay went 2-for-5 and extended has hit safely in all six games this season. The Bats would score two more runs on an infield groundout by Nelson and a single to left field from first baseman Mike Costanzo to put the Bats up 5-2.

Columbus responded quickly to the Bats' three-run inning by matching it in the top of the eighth against Lee Hyde and the Bats. The Clips got an RBI hit from Tim Fedroff and an RBI forceout by Jose Ramirez. Fedroff would come around and score an unearned run after a dropped catch error by Bats first baseman Mike Costanzo. Pedro Villarreal was able to close the inning after three runs (two earned) were charged to Hyde.

Jumbo Diaz (1-0) pitched the ninth to earn the win for Louisville. Nick Hagadone (0-2) suffered the loss for Columbus

The Bats' walk-off win marks the second straight home opener in which they've bested their opponent late in the game. Last year it was Felix Perez' walk-off home run that gave the Bats the win.

The Bats and Clippers resume play tomorrow night at Louisville Slugger Field at 6:35 p.m. Right-handed pitcher Tim Crabbe (0-0) gets the start for the Bats and the Clippers will send right-handed pitcher Tyler Cloyd (0-1) to the bump.