Dixon hits for a cycle in 12-5 win

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - In the final morning game of the season, the Louisville Bats (36-55) exploded offensively to take an early lead and dominate the Rochester Red Wings (44-47) in a 12-5 win at Frontier Field on Tuesday morning. Brandon Dixon hit for a cycle in the ninth inning, which is just the sixth cycle in franchise history.

Louisville starter Robert Stephenson (9-6, 3.29) was stellar on the mound in his fourth consecutive win. He went seven innings, allowing two earned runs from six hits while walking two and striking out five on 100 pitches (66 strikes). With today's performance, Stephenson collects his fourth straight quality start which has not been done by a Louisville pitcher since 2015.
Rochester's Adalberto Mejía (5-3, 3.32) took the loss, going six innings while allowing seven earned runs from eight hits, walking one and striking out seven.
Center fielder, Mason Williams set the tone on his first at bat opening with his fifteenth double of the season. Blake Trahan followed with a sacrifice bunt to push Williams to third when Brandon Dixon stepped up and recorded his nineteenth RBI of the season to score Williams and put the Bats ahead. The hitting became contagious as Gabriel Guerrero singled to score Dixon just before D.J. Peterson blasted a two-run homer to end the inning and make it a four run first frame for the Bats.
Despite the impressive start, the Red Wings were quick to respond. An opening walk to Taylor Motter followed by a Nick Gordon double quickly plated two runners. A ground out from Gregorio Petit then brought home Motter. A following double would then score Gordon to cut the Louisville lead in half, making it 4-2.
The second inning brought 1-2-3 frames from both starting pitchers but the Bats were ready to get swinging again in the third. Blake Trahan began with another Louisville double as Brandon Dixon followed up with a single. With two runners on, the momentum continued as Phil Ervin crushed another double to score Trahan. The Bats couldn't stop as Gabriel Guerrero, with his third RBI of the day, scored Dixon and Ervin to put the Bats comfortably ahead 7-2.
Four quiet innings came after the seven-run start until Brandon Dixon came to the plate in the eighth. With the first Louisville hit since the third inning, Dixon smacked his sixth home run of the season and reignited the Bats offense. Phil Ervin continued his sizzling hitting streak with a double, his fourth in the month of July, to land at second. After D.J. Peterson drew a walk, Catcher Stuart Turner then recorded a two-run double of his own to score Ervin and Peterson and put the Bats ahead 10-2.
 
The best was saved until last. After an opening walk to Mason Williams, Brandon Dixon connected for a triple, his fourth hit and third RBI of the day, to collect a cycle and score Williams. The cycle is the first for a Louisville player since Scott Schebler on July 26, 2016. The final Louisville run of the game was brought in by a Gabriel Guerrero ground out to score Dixon and make it a 12-2 score going into the bottom of the ninth.

Despite being stifled for most of the game, the Red Wings attempted a late comeback in the final frame. Andy Wilkins began with a solo homer to right field. Following two walks and a single, a fourth walk then scored Jon Kemmer. A groundout from Gregorio Petit scored Edgar Corcino for Rochester's third run of the inning before Zach Weiss ended the game on a strikeout to seal a 12-5 Bats win.
The teams will be back on Wednesday night at Frontier Field for the final game of the series.  
Right-hander Homer Bailey (1-2, 5.87) will make a rehab start against lefty Stephen Gonsalves (6-3, 3.66) with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m.