Romano Shuts Down Clippers in Return

COLUMBUS, Ohio-The Louisville Bats (22-35) bounced back from a game-one defeat to earn a 5-3 victory Tuesday over the Columbus Clippers (27-30) at Huntington Park.
Despite leaving the bases loaded in the opening frame, Jesse winker was able to put the Bats are the board first with a sacrifice fly to right center in the top of the third inning. Back-to-back singles by Darnell Sweeney and Sebastian Elizalde would set up the scoring play with two outs in the inning.
Singles by Sweeney and Stuart Turner in the fifth inning set up Winker once again to bring in another run. A ground out to the right side plated Winker's team-leading 28^th run batted-in of 2017 and put the Bats up, 2-0, over the Clippers.
In just seven games with Louisville, Sweeny picked up his fourth multi-hit performance in the win highlighted by a double that scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning. The 4-0 advantage did not last long with Columbus' Giovanny Urshela picking up his fifth homerun of the season, cutting the deficit to a pair of runs.
Columbus continued to chip away with their third run off the ballgame in the eighth inning after righty Louis Coleman allowed a hit batter and a double to the first two Clippers of the inning. After a sacrifice fly plated a run, Kevin Shakelford managed to record the final out of the eighth inning and maintain the Bats' one run lead.
Winker added his third run batted-in of the contest in the top of ninth inning to push the Louisville lead back to a pair of runs. Despite loading the bases for the second time in the contest, the Bats could not score another run before the end of the frame.
Shakelford allowed two singles in the bottom of the ninth but managed to secure three outs without allowing a Columbus batter to cross home plate en route to the 5-3 win. The Louisville closer also moved to eight-for-eight in save opportunities.
Making his first start off of the disabled list, right-hander Sal Romano went five innings to record the victory. Picking up his first career Triple-A victory, Romano allowed five hits and two walks, while also striking out a Triple-A career-high eight batters.
Offensively, two Louisville position players increased their current-hit streaks. Dilson Herrera extended his streak to nine-consecutive games with a fourth inning double to left field. Elizalde's single in the first pushed his streak to eight games.
Game three of the four-game set will get underway Wednesday evening with first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Jackson Stephens (3-3, 5.21 ERA) will take the hill for the Bats opposite lefty Ryan Merritt who gets the start for the Clippers.