Reynolds' gem leads Bats to 5-1 win
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Greg Reynolds (W, 7-0) threw a gem to lead Louisville (30-34) past Durham (40-24) in the second game of a four-game series. Reynolds became the first Bats pitcher to start 7-0 since Louisville became the Reds' affiliate. Denis Phipps provided two of the runs needed in the 5-1 win.
Reynolds and Durham starter Alex Colome (L, 4-6) would duel for the first five innings before Louisville's offense broke out.
Reynolds started the game off strong, setting down the first six batters he faced. Reynolds worked around two base runners in the third inning, but couldn't get out of the fourth inning unscathed. Durham would score the first run of the game with a Tim Beckham RBI-single.
Louisville responded in the bottom of the inning with three straight singles. The third, off the bat of Felix Perez scored Josh Fellhauer and tied the game at one. Colome retired the next three Louisville hitters to end the Bats' threat.
Colome found himself in trouble again in the sixth after back-to-back walks with two outs. Phipps delivered a double off the wall in center to plate Perez and Mike Hessman and give Louisville a 3-1 lead. Colome would exit after the sixth inning after giving up three runs on five hits and two walks.
Reynolds settled in after the fourth inning and only allowed one base runner, who he picked off at first, in the next three frames.
Billy Hamilton reached base with a flare single in the bottom of the seventh. Durham reliever Cory Wade watched as Hamilton stole second base, and then third, for his 34th and 35th stolen bases of the year. The Bats couldn't score him however, leaving the Bats' lead at two.
Reynolds returned in the eighth and continued to handle the Bulls' line up. Jesus Flores hit a leadoff single, but Reynolds then got three groundballs to end the inning.
The Bats were looking for some insurance in their half of the eighth and they found it with Emmanuel Burriss. Burris came up to the plate with runners on second and third and one out. Durham pulled the infield in, and Burriss dropped a two-run single just over the head of the second baseman. Hamilton got robbed of a RBI when center fielder Jason Bourgeois made a diving catch to end the inning.
With a 5-1 lead, Reynolds walked the leadoff hitter in the ninth. The walk brought Jim Riggleman out of the dugout and the fans at Louisville Slugger Field to their feet. Reynolds allowed just one run for the third straight start. The righty worked around six walks and two hits to earn his third straight decision and third win in a row.
Lee Hyde relieved Reynolds and gave up a single to the first batter he faced. Riggleman then turned to Kevin Whelan for the Save (5) with two runners on. Whelan struck out Shelley Duncan for the first out of the inning. Beckham dropped a ball just in front of Fellhauer, but the right fielder quickly fired the ball to second for the force out. With two outs, Cole Figueroa flied out to Hamilton in center to end the game, giving Louisville the 5-1 victory.
Corky Miller went 0-for-4 in his 500th game as a Louisville Bat. The catcher reached base in the eighth on an error.
Game three is tomorrow night at 7:05 and will feature Bats righty Pedro Villarreal (1-3, 5.03 ERA) and RHP J.D. Martin (7-3, 3.20 ERA).