Crook Walkoff Prevents DH Sweep

LOUISVILLE, KY – Ryan Kreidler homered in extras to spoil a solid start from Riley O’Brien in Game 1 but Narciso Crook belted a three-run walkoff homer to prevent a doubleheader sweep as the Louisville Bats split a twin-bill with the Toledo Mud Hens Thursday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

[BOX SCORE, G1] | [BOX SCORE, G2]

O’Brien pitched 5.0 effective innings with just one run on three hits with five strikeouts. The righty continues to be a stalwart of the Bats’ rotation and now ranks among the top five pitchers in Triple-A East in starts, innings and opposing batting average.

Kreidler jumped Matt Pidich in the eighth inning of the opener of the twin-bill for a two-run homer that proved to be the difference. Louisville plated a run on a sacrifice fly from Mike Freeman in the home half of the frame, but fell one run shy of the comeback in a 3-2 loss.

The Bats came out swinging in Game 2 with Freeman lifting a two-run homer and Michael De Leon singling home a third in the bottom of the first.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Stewart went deep on a solo shot in the second inning and Policelli lifted a two-run shot of his own to give the Mud Ducks a 5-3 lead after four frames.

Kreidler went deep again in the sixth before Chris Okey matched the shot with an RBI double in the bottom of the inning.

Trailing 6-4 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Crook belted a three-run walkoff homer to send the Bats to a 7-6 victory over the Mud Hens.

Louisville and Toledo will continue their five-game series Friday at 7 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field. RHP Michael Mariot (5-4, 4.01) will get the ball against RHP Ricardo Pinto (10-2, 4.33).