Bats Even the Series, Top the Mud Hens 12-3 on Friday Night

TOLEDO, OH – Louisville (29-46) records a season-high eight extra-base hits en route to a 12-3 victory over Toledo (39-35) on Friday night at Fifth Third Field.

[Box Score]

The Bats took no time at all to get on the board tonight despite an almost hour-long delay, thanks to Reds’ rehabber Tyler Naquin. With two balls and two strikes as the leadoff batter, Naquin blasted his first homerun as a Bat, giving Louisville a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Louisville tacked on two more in the second to extend its lead to 3-0 before blowing the game open in the top of the fourth. TJ Friedl started the scoring with a two RBI triple before coming home off an RBI single from Naquin. Cristian Santana capped off the five-run outburst with a two RBI double off the center field to push the lead to 8-0.

Reds’ rehabber Justin Dunn (0-0, 0.00) was perfect in his first start with the Bats. Dunn tossed three scoreless innings, needing just 36 pitches (26 strikes) as he fanned four without allowing a baserunner.

Toledo scratched back, scoring three runs across the fourth and fifth frames, getting back within five, down 8-3.

The Bats tallied one run in the seventh before adding three more in the ninth to close out an impressive offensive night, racking up a season-high eight extra-base hits, to top the Mud Hens 12-3 for a second consecutive win.

Louisville and Toledo will continue the series tomorrow as they play game five with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm E.T. Lefty Brandon Williamson (0-0, 0.00) will make his Triple-A debut for the Bats as he takes on former Bat and current Mud Hen righty Michael Mariot (6-1, 4.73).