Rain Halts Comeback As Bats Fall To Cubs 8-6

The Louisville Bats continued the slugfest in their series against the Iowa Cubs, with the I-Cubs just getting the edge before the weather took over the game, ending the contest 8-6 in the sixth inning on Saturday afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field.

Darren McCaughan took the bump to start the day for the Bats, and Iowa’s Jaxon Wiggins made his second start of the season.

Louisville got on the board in the bottom of the first, scoring two on a double by JJ Bleday. That would mark his fourth double on the year and his fourth RBI, commanding the Bats to a 2-0 lead. An inning later, BJ Murray would hit a home run for the I-Cubs to cut the lead in half.

Louisville looked to keep Iowa at bay, and an RBI single by Blake Dunn would aid in that effort. Michael Toglia would score from third, extending the lead back to two runs, 3-1. Iowa would not go quietly however, as back-to-back home runs in the third - one being a two-run shot by Pedro Ramirez, the other a solo shot by Kevin Alcantara - would allow the Cubs to take their first lead of the game, 4-3.

Louisville’s cleanup hitter, Rece Hinds, would have a ball leave the yard for his fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the third to knot the game back up at four apiece. However, after loading the bases and a bloop single by Justin Dean, Iowa would reclaim the lead in the top of the fourth. That would end McCaughan’s day, as he would finish with just two strikeouts while giving up eight runs, all of which were earned.

Louisville would call on the bullpen to stop the bleeding with Lyon Richardson, who made his second appearance in the series, but Iowa would continue to answer the call. A single by Johnathan Long would score two, extending the lead 7-4.

Wiggins would end his day in the fifth, where he posted four innings of work, giving up a season high four earned runs with four strikeouts. Luke Little would replace him, where Louisville would work a bases-loaded situation with no outs. A walk to Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and a sacrifice fly out by P.J. Higgins would get Louisville within two runs, but Little would shut down hopes of a comeback there with an inning-ending strikeout, as the Bats would still trail 8-6.

In the sixth, the rain would sweep over Louisville Slugger Field, and the game would go into a rain delay. After a 54-minute delay, the game would eventually be cancelled, ending with a final score of 8-6. Iowa would pick up the win, with Little (2-0) edging out McCaughan (1-1) in the showdown.

The Bats (4-4) wrap up their series against the I-Cubs (5-3) on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field. Nick Curran and Jim Kelch will be on the call for Sports Talk 790.