The Bats lose the road trip finale, 12-8

COLUMBUS, Oh- The Louisville Bats lost the series and road trip finale in Columbus, 12-8 on Sunday afternoon at Huntington Park. Two blown saves, three errors, and three home runs by Columbus did the damage in what set the final road trip record at 5-6 for Louisville.  

In the bottom half of the eighth inning Columbus would score six on a bases-loaded hit by pitch, walk and a bases-clearing triple by Rodriguez to break the 8-8 tie. He would score on an error by centerfielder Scott Schebler to give Columbus a 12-8 lead, which they would hold onto for the final score.

The Bats found their power in with three home runs in the first four innings. Raffy Lopez and Juan Perez each hit two-run homers, while Schebler added a solo blast and the Bats lead 5-0 after four innings.

Columbus answered with a home run of their own, a two-run shot by Guillermo Quiroz, to inch closer at 5-2 Bats after five. The Bats got a run back in the sixth on a Hernan Iribarren double making it 6-2. Iribarren extended his Bats season-long hit streak to 12 games on Sunday.

Reds rehab pitcher Jon Moscot did not get a decision after firing five innings, allowing two runs on two hits, a home run, walking three and striking out four. He threw 69 pitches, 38 strikes.

The Clippers would come to the plate in the seventh against the Bats bullpen and score four runs to tie the game. Joey Butler hit a two-run blast to make it a two-run game and Quiroz went back-to-back for his second homer of the day and Columbus trailed by a run. After a single and steal Ronny Rodriguez singled to center to tie the game and extend his league-high hitting streak to 17 games.

In the next half inning the Bats would answer with two runs of their own as Lopez hit a double scoring Juan Perez from first, followed by a Iribarren single for the second run of the inning and the Bats lead 8-6.

The Clippers six runs in the eighth were the difference as the Bats let go of a 5-0 lead early in the ballgame.

Right handed pitcher Will Roberts also finished with a no decision for Columbus. He finished after six innings allowing 11 hits, six earned runs, two walks, and three strikeouts on 105 pitches.

The Bats head back to Louisville to begin a seven-game homestand against Scranton Wilkes-Barre. Tomorrow's 7:05 pm first pitch will feature right handed pitcher Daniel Wright (0-0, 3.60) for the Bats against Richard Bleier (1-1, 2.45) for the RailRaiders.