Bats Long Ball Buries Indy, 7-1

LOUISVILLE, KY. – The Louisville Bats launched three home runs to defeat the Indianapolis Indians on Wednesday night, 7-1.

The Indians (52-57) led off the scoring in the top of the third inning when Chris Sharpe reached base with a walk and Taylor Davis singled up the middle to put runners on with no outs. Indy’s lone run came when Sharpe crossed the plate after a wild pitch from Reiver Sanmartin (W, 7-2).

In the bottom of the fourth frame, the Bats (47-62) tied the game at 1-1 with a single from Brantley Bell to score Alfredo Rodriguez.

Louisville broke the tie an inning later in the fifth with back-to-back home runs. Mike Freeman launched a three-run home run over the right field fence to take the lead and Narciso Crook hit a solo home run to extend the Bats lead to 5-1.

The Bats tallied two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with a home run from TJ Friedl and a passed ball in the bottom of the eighth to seal the lead at 7-1.

Beau Sulser (L, 6-6) took the loss giving up five runs on 10 hits in five innings of work. Cam Alldred made his Triple-A debut with Indy and gave up one run on three hits in two innings of relief. Sanmartin earned the win holding the Indians offense to one hit with six strikeouts in six innings.

The Indians and Bats continue the six-game series on Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 PM ET. RHP Tanner Anderson (2-2, 4.00) will take the mound against RHP Riley O’Brien (6-6, 4.36).