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Bat Secure Series with 7-3 Win Against Columbus

June 9, 2023

COLUMBUS, OH — With a three-homer inning and four Reds rehabbers taking the field, the Louisville Bats (34-26) secured their sixth straight series win with a final score of 7-3 against the Columbus Clippers (30-30) at Huntington Park on Friday night. [Box Score] Louisville got to work early, putting runs

COLUMBUS, OH — With a three-homer inning and four Reds rehabbers taking the field, the Louisville Bats (34-26) secured their sixth straight series win with a final score of 7-3 against the Columbus Clippers (30-30) at Huntington Park on Friday night.

[Box Score]

Louisville got to work early, putting runs on the board in the top of the first. The Bats have been the first to score in their last four consecutive games. Leading off the effort, Reds rehabber Joey Votto drew a walk and Christian Encarnacion-Strand knocked a single before Matt Reynolds followed up with another single to score Votto, giving the Bats an early lead of 1-0. Encarnacion-Strand then scored on a wild pitch to put Louisville up 2-0 in the top of the first.

The Clippers fought back in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer, cutting the Bats’ lead to 2-1.

Rehabber Casey Legumina (0-0, 4.22) turned in a solid outing in the first start of his rehab assignment. The righthander threw one inning, recording two strikeouts while allowing only one hit and one run in the spot start.

Columbus took the lead in the bottom of the second on a two-run homer, 3-2.

After a quiet four innings, Reds rehabber Henry Ramos blasted a home run to even up the score at 3-3 in the top of the seventh. Votto followed up with a back-to-back homer, retaking the lead at 4-3. After right fielder Jacob Hartubise singled, Encarnacion-Strand smashed the third longball of the inning, his second of the series, to strengthen the Louisville lead at 6-3.

The Bats strung together a couple of singles and walks to score once more in the top of the eighth for a score of 7-3.

Making his debut for Louisville, righty Tommy Eveld (0-0, 3.00) took over for Legumina in the second and tossed 3.0 innings, tallying two strikeouts while only giving up two runs, one earned, on two hits. Pedro Garcia (2-1, 6.55) and Shea Spitzbarth (0-0, 3.38) followed with 2.0 scoreless innings each before Daniel Duarte (3-0, 3.49) came in to close the game and secure the 7-3 win.

With the victory, the Bats captured their sixth straight series win for the first time since 2010. Tonight’s win also moves Louisville eight games over .500 for the first time since July 8, 2011.

The Bats will play game five in the series against Columbus tomorrow, Saturday, June 10 with first pitch set for 7:05 pm E.T. Right-hander Zack Brown (3-1, 6.12) will make the start for Louisville, taking on fellow righty Cody Morris (0-0, 3.00) for the Clippers.