Bats drop final home game of 2017

LOUISVILLE, KY - The Louisville Bats (54-84) fell to the Indianapolis Indians (77-61) by a score of 8-6 on Thursday night at Louisville Slugger Field in what was the final home game of the 2017 season.
The Indians jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, erupting for seven runs in the first inning. Bats starting pitcher Wendolyn Bautista (0-2, 14.90) was pulled before he recorded an out, allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits in his third start with Louisville.
Louisville chipped away at the deficit in the third inning. Reliever Ismael Guillòn led off the inning by tripling down the right field line for his first career minor league hit. He then came home to score on an RBI groundout by Darnell Sweeney, giving the Bats their first run of the game.
The Bats added three more that same inning on three RBI singles, cutting the Indians' lead down to 7-4.
Louisville rallied in the ninth inning by scoring two runs on a bases loaded walk and RBI fielder's choice, but the late comeback ultimately came up short.
Brandon Dixon, Hernan Iribarren, Tyler Goeddel and Sebastian Elizalde each collected two hits on the evening. Elizalde was presented with the Mary E. Barney Team MVP Award prior to the game.
The Bats will travel to Columbus tomorrow and conclude the 2017 season with a four-game series against the Clippers. Right-hander Jackson Stephens (7-9, 4.86) will start for Louisville while left-hander Shawn Morimando (10-9, 4.41) will get the ball for Columbus in game one.