Bats Win Slow Battle With 1-0 Shutout Over Iowa
After a barn burner the day before, the Louisville Bats stumped the Iowa Cubs in a 1-0 shutout on Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park. Francisco Urbaez delivered the only run in the game for the Bats, while the Louisville pitching staff held the I-Cubs to just three hits in the
After a barn burner the day before, the Louisville Bats stumped the Iowa Cubs in a 1-0 shutout on Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park. Francisco Urbaez delivered the only run in the game for the Bats, while the Louisville pitching staff held the I-Cubs to just three hits in the game.
The Bats had a chance to strike first with two runners in scoring position in the first inning, but three consecutive outs halted the first scoring opportunity of the game. Chase Petty (W, 2-2) returned to the bump after being activated off the 7-Day Injured List before the game. He limited the I-Cubs through his first four innings, allowing just one hit with a strikeout.
Iowa starter Jordan Wicks also held the Bats scoreless through the first three innings despite five hits. Hector Rodriguez recorded his second hit of the game in the third, reaching base in his first two at-bats with singles.
Petty continued to hold Iowa scoreless through five innings, despite not recording a strikeout since the second inning. He allowed a hit in the fifth, but Will Banfield gunned down Hayden Cantrelle at second on a steal attempt to help keep the I-Cubs at bay.
The Bats had a good start at the plate in the sixth, with Michael Chavis reaching base on a single. JJ Bleday walked to extend his on-base streak to 22 games, but Michael Toglia grounded into a double play to quickly put two outs on the board. Nevertheless, Urbaez broke the seal with an RBI double to plate Chavis, giving the Bats a 1-0 lead after the top half.
Petty helped defend the lead in the bottom half, continuing to hold Iowa scoreless with two strikeouts in the inning. Lyon Richardson would relieve him in the seventh, finishing Petty’s line at 6.0 innings with two hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. Richardson would hold the Cubs scoreless in the inning, continuing his streak of not allowing an earned run yet this season in 13.1 innings.
Despite a Bleday triple, the Bats were left stranded in the eighth after a double play kicked off the inning, marking the fifth double play converted by the I-Cubs defense. Luis Mey kept the Bats ahead in the bottom half after retiring three straight.
Trevor Kuncl (SV, 1) manned the mound in the ninth to help conserve the Bats' lead. After a groundout and a single, he forced another ground ball for a double play to earn his first save and earn the team a shutout.
Rodriguez finished with three hits on the day, while Chavis extended his active hit streak to 10 games. Today’s shutout gives the Bats two so far on the season, both of which Petty started. Iowa pitcher Ty Blach (L, 1-1) earned his first loss after surrendering the RBI to Urbaez.
The Bats (14-10) continue their six-game series against the I-Cubs (12-11) on Friday night, with the first pitch set for 8:08 p.m. at Principal Park. Nick Curran will have the call on Talk Radio 1080 AM.