Bats Top Mud Hens 6-5 to Earn Series Split on Sunday Night

TOLEDO, OH – Louisville (30-47) led the entire way in a thrilling game six, topping Toledo (40-36) 6-5 to earn the series split on Sunday night at Fifth Third Field.

[Box Score]

Once again, the Louisville Bats jumped out in front early. Reds’ rehabber Tyler Naquin kicked the game off with a leadoff double, followed immediately by an RBI triple off the bat of Jose Barrero. Alejo Lopez brought Barrero home with a sac fly to center field before the Mud Hens could retire the side as the Bats took a 2-0 lead in the first.

Louisville threatened to extend its lead in the second, getting two runners in scoring position with just one out, but Toledo was able to work out of the situation without allowing a run to cross the plate.

Toledo got on the board in the next inning, courtesy of a solo homerun off the bat of Jamie Westbrook, cutting the Bats’ lead in half, still down 2-1 through three innings of play.

In the top of the fourth, Stuart Fairchild continued his hot stretch of hitting with Louisville as he launched his sixth homer of the year, a solo shot to left center field, to extend the Bats lead back to two at 3-1.

The Mud Hens struck again in the home half of the seventh, once again cutting the Bats’ lead to a single run at 3-2 with two innings left to play.

Both teams had their offenses in a groove in the eighth. Louisville plated three runs in the top half of the inning as TJ Friedl and Lorenzo Cedrola knocked RBI singles to push the Bats lead to 6-2. In the bottom half of the frame, Toledo answered with three runs of its own, as the Mud Hens found themselves down by just a run again with the score set at 6-5 with only the ninth left to play.

Toledo threatened to send the game into extra innings, getting a runner to third base with one out, but Fernando Cruz was able to stave off the threat, closing out the win and earning his 13th save of the season.

The Bats will make the overnight trip home as they look forward to a six-game series with the St. Paul Saints. Game one of the series will be tomorrow, July 4th at 7:05 p.m. ET with a special Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza postgame. LHP Justin Nicolino (1-3, 8.37) will get the ball for Louisville with St. Paul’s starter to be announced later.