Bats win 7-6 in eleven innings

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - In a back and fourth affair shortstop Kristopher Negron gave the Bats the lead for the final time on a RBI single in the eleventh inning in a 7-6 Louisville victory, defeating Indianapolis at Victory Field on Friday night.

Negron entered the game a sub in the sixth inning as a part of a double-switch, bringing Ryan Dennick into the game to pitch. He made a nice play on defense and was the hero giving the Bats the win and bringing them within three of the division lead.

Looking for his first win of the season was left-hander David Holmberg (0-4, 5.28) as he took the ball on Friday. He pitched three and two-thirds, no runs, allowed three hits and struck out four. He was on a 50-pitch count in case he is called upon to pitch a game of the Cincinnati Reds double-header with the Cubs on Tuesday.

Holmberg has allowed just three runs in his last twenty-two and one-third innings pitched over his last four starts. Holmberg remains winless on the season, even though the Bats have won his last six starts over the span of the last month and a half.

Right-hander Brandon Cumpton (4-1, 1.71) pitched six innings, allowed four runs, three earned on eighth hits, walked one and struck out three. He also received the no-decision in the back and forth affair.

Louisville jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the fourth inning. They scored in each of the first four innings of the game.

Center fielder, Jason Bourgeois stayed hot at the plate on Friday. He took the second pitch of the game over the left field wall to give the Bats a 1-0 lead. He has reached base to begin the game in each of the last four.

The fifth inning for Indianapolis saw them put up three runs. The big play was a two-run single by second baseman Michael Martinez. That made the score 4-3 in favor of the Bats.

Indianapolis tied the game in the seventh, but it didn't last long as the Bats scored two in the eighth. Ruben Gotay came into the game as a pinch hitter and smacked a hard hit ball up the middle that would score two. The play was ruled an error, one of their four on the night, on Michael Martinez.

Indianapolis would score two more in the bottom half of the eighth to tie the game, but couldn't score again as they fall for the fourth time in the last five times, over the past seven overall games.

Pedro Villarreal pitched two scoreless frames in extras innings to earn the win and now has made four consecutive scoreless appearances against the Indians. The Bats move to an International League best 18-10 in one run games this season.

Louisville (45-43) and Indianapolis (48-40) will finish their split four-game set tomorrow night at 7:05. Righty Josh Smith (8-2, 4.28) will square off against Nick Kingham (2-0, 0.34).