Bats hang on for 2-1 win over Clippers
COLUMBUS, Oh. - The Louisville Bats (66-74) held on to win in a low scoring affair in Columbus, beating the Clippers (69-71) 2-1 on Thursday night. With the win, Louisville will leave Columbus with a split of the two clubs' four-game split series.
Bats starter Chad Rogers (W, 5-5) carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, where he allowed his first hit on a leadoff single to David Cooper. Rogers finished after seven innings of work, allowing one earned run on three hits and a pair of walks with four strikeouts.
Louisville scored twice in the opening third of the ballgame, clinging to a narrow lead for the remaining six innings. Columbus strung together back-to-back two-out hits in the seventh to try to mount a comeback, but fell short. A single by Juan Diaz and an RBI double from Chun Chen allowed the Clippers' lone run to score.
Billy Hamilton stole his International League-leading 74th base in the first inning after he led off the game with a bunt single. It didn't take long for him to steal number 75, as he took third later in the inning. Henry Rodriguez and Emmanuel Burriss both stole bases in the second, with Rodriguez swiping second again in the seventh. Louisville's stolen base total of five on the night was just one shy of their season-high of six that was set on April 21 at Indianapolis.
Louisville took an early lead in the second that was spearheaded by Rodriguez. He singled to lead off the frame, stealing second to reach scoring position with no outs in the inning. Corky Miller, beginning his major league rehab assignment from the Cincinnati Reds, moved Rodriguez to third on a groundout. In the next at-bat, Nevin Ashley's groundout scored Rodriguez to make the Bats lead 1-0. Miller went 1-for-2 with a walk before being removed from the game for a pinch runner in the eighth.
Despite walking the bases loaded to start the third, Columbus' Trevor Bauer was able to wiggle his way out of giving up a big inning. The Bats were only able to manufacture one run on Mike Hessman's sacrifice fly that scored Derrick Robinson to inch the Louisville lead to 2-0.
Bauer (L, 6-7) allowed a season-high seven walks as he labored through five innings of work. He only allowed two earned runs on four hits, striking out five to help him work his way out of numerous troubles.
Juan Diaz (S, 8) came on in the 8th with two outs, finishing the four-out save with a pair of strikeouts and only one hit in his 1.1 innings to close out the Bats' victory.
The Bats will kickoff their last series of 2013 on Friday night when they take on the Indianapolis Indians at Victory Field. First pitch for game one of four between the teams is set for 6:05. Louisville RHP Tim Crabbe (0-1, 1.23) is scheduled to take the mound against Indianapolis LHP Kris Johnson (10-4, 2.39).