Bats shutout Tribe, take season series
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville (68-75) used a strong performance from starting pitcher Pedro Villarreal to shutout the Indianapolis Indians (80-63) by a score of 3-0. Villarreal recorded a season-high eight strikeouts in six innings of work.
Villarreal (W, 4-9) allowed just two hits and did not walk a batter in his 18th start of the season. The right-hander had his fastball working as he overcame one of the top offenses in the league. The Indians got two on base in the fifth off of two singles, but Villarreal got a strikeout and a pop out to get out of the inning.
The Bats were able to provide the run support with a clutch two-out hit. With the bases loaded in the sixth, Mike Costanzo sent a ball into center field all the way to the wall, clearing the bases. It was Costanzo's first game with Louisville this season, as he was called up from Double-A Pensacola earlier in the day.
Jameson Taillon (L, 1-3) made the start for Indianapolis and dueling with Villarreal before allowing the big hit to Costanzo. Taillon gave up three runs on four hits while striking out six. Taillon also walked one in his six innings of work.
Jose Diaz (S,) entered the game in the ninth inning to close things out for Louisville and preserve their 3-0 lead. Diaz would get some help from his defense with Costanzo diving to snag a line drive out of the air for the first out.
With the shutout, the Bats have played in a franchise record 28 shutout games in 2013. They are 13-15 in those games. The win also secured the season series victory against the Indians with Louisville taking 12 games out of 21 with just one game to go.
The season finale is scheduled for a 1:05 start tomorrow afternoon. Indianapolis will send lefty Andy Oliver (5-4, 4.18) to face Louisville's Yohan Pino (5-7, 3.22).