Bats Thump I-Cubs 12-6 To Clinch Series Win

The Louisville Bats had plenty of offense to go around on Sunday afternoon, outlasting the Iowa Cubs 12-6 in the series finale at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa. The win marks the first series win for the Bats at Iowa since 2021, and their second road series victory of the season, which beats out their total from last season.

Blake Dunn cracked a double to right field for an early runner in scoring position for the Bats. After Edwin Arroyo bunted him to third, Hector Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Dunn and giving the Bats an early 1-0 lead, already surpassing yesterday's run total.

But the Bats didn’t stop there.

Despite the two early outs, Noelvi Marte singled against Iowa starter Paul Campbell (L, 0-2) to keep both his 10-game hitting streak and the inning alive. Michael Toglia and Francisco Urbaez both walked, bringing up one of the Bats’ series heroes with Ivan Johnson. He provided more heroics, flying the second pitch of his at-bat over the left field wall for a grand slam and a 5-0 Bats lead.

Sam Benchoter made his second start of the season after projected starter Jose Franco was called back up to Cincinnati, along with standout outfielder JJ Bleday. After giving up a leadoff single, Benschoter retired the side in three straight batters to end the first. He surrendered his first run in from an RBI Single to Eric Yang in the second, but earned a strikeout for the third out to keep it 5-1.

With two outs once again, the Bats added more runs in the third, as Johnson started the rally with a double. Will Banfield knocked him in with his own double, followed by an RBI single from Garrett Hampson to extend Louisville’s lead to 7-1. Hampson’s hit marked his first RBI of the season in 13 games played.

Benschoter avoided trouble in the third, striking out two straight I-Cubs after giving up consecutive singles. He was relieved in the fourth, finishing his shortened start at 3.0 innings with one run on six hits and four strikeouts.

The Bats' offense poured it on Iowa in the fourth, having their first five hitters of the inning all hit safely and gather four more runs. Rodriguez began the inning with a triple, and Marte plated him with a single. Toglia, Urbaez, and Johnson all hit back-to-back-to-back doubles to cross the remaining three runs and take an 11-1 lead.

Lyon Richardson (W, 2-0) replaced Benschoter and tossed a scoreless fourth. Urbaez plated another run in the fifth on a fielder’s choice double play with the bases loaded. The I-Cubs got a run back in the bottom half with an RBI single, tacking on Richardson’s first earned run of the season and cutting the score to 12-2

Anthony Misiewicz and Tejay Antone each cruised through scoreless innings for the Bats in the sixth and seventh innings. Hagen Danner relieved Antone in the eighth and ran into some trouble, letting up three runs and leaving the bases loaded for Trevor Kuncl with two outs. Kuncl walked home another run in his first batter, but forced a ground out to leave the inning and preserve a 12-6 Bats lead.

With pressure dwindling in the ninth, Kuncl returned to bump and retired three straight to secure the win for the Bats.

Marte starred for the Bats offense, earning his fifth multi-hit performance in 10 games with a 4-6 day at the plate. Johnson led the squad with five RBI, while Dunn, Toglia, Banfield, and Hampson each recorded multiple hits throughout the game.

The Bats (16-11) continue their road trip to face off against the Omaha Storm Chasers (12-14) on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. EST at Werner Park. Nick Curran will be on the call for Sports Talk 790-AM.