Bats' Schebler records second pro cycle

Scott Schebler's second cycle turned out even better than the first.

Cincinnati's No. 15 prospect went a career-best 5-for-5 and doubled in the bottom of the 10th to complete the feat on Tuesday as Triple-A Louisville walked off with a 4-3 win over Charlotte at Louisville Slugger Field. The 25-year-old pulled it off nine years to the day after Chris Dickerson recorded the last Bats cycle in 2007.

Schebler -- who collected his first cycle on June 1, 2014 with Double-A Chattanooga -- got the ball rolling Tuesday with a triple to left field in the first inning that plated Jermaine Curtis with the game's first run. The Iowa native followed it up with a single up the middle in the third, then launched a game-tying solo homer to right in the sixth.

Needing a double to claim his spot in history, Schebler stepped up with one out and Curtis on second in the eighth. Facing reliever Juan Minaya, the 2010 26th-round pick fought off an 0-2 pitch into right, but settled for a single.

But he got another shot at the milestone after Jason Bourgeois slapped a single to right in the bottom of the ninth to knot the score, 3-3, and send the game to extras. Bats lefty Wandy Peralta (4-1) held the Knights scoreless in the top of the 10th, and Schebler led off the bottom of the frame.

His teammates chattered about the renewed possiblity of a cycle, but the Des Moines Area Community College product said his focus remained on winning the game.

"I think a couple of the guys said something to me before I left for that at-bat, but I was kind of in the zone so I probably didn't hear it too well," Schebler said with a laugh.

He fouled off the first offering from Charlotte reliever Chris Beck (4-4). On the second pitch, he got the double he needed, even though his opponent was working hard to avoid that.

"They were playing no-doubles [defense], so the first baseman [Jerry Sands] was playing pretty much on the base," Schebler said. "I hit it just to the left of him, so it was pretty much in the corner anyway. I knew the right fielder [Jason Coats] had to go to his backhand, so I knew I was going to stretch it.

"I was probably going to try and stretch that one anyway, because the team needed me to get in scoring position just to win the ballgame. In a situation like that, if you just play to win the game, things like that work out."

Schebler has helped his team plenty with the bat the past week. The 6-foot, 225-pound center fielder improved to 17-for-35 in his last eight games to raise his average 25 points to a season-high .315.

"Just getting confidence," Schebler said. "Me and my [manager] Delino DeShields are kind of clicking. For the last month-and-a-half, I feel like I've been swinging a pretty good bat. I'm just getting through that routine and going out and playing confidently."

As the rare player with multiple cycles on his career resume, Schebler said he favored Tuesday's over the first because of the way it ended. Seth Mejias-Brean smacked a single to center off Beck, allowing Schebler to cross the plate with the winning run.

"I would have to say this one was better because we won. The last one I think it was like a 16-12 game and we lost," he said. "Obviously I wanted us to close out the game in the ninth, but I guess I just took advantage of the situation that presented itself."