Francisco, Bankston, and McDonald Hit Home Runs as Bats Hammer Indians, 10-2

Louisville, KY - The Louisville Bats rode a fast start and never looked back, pulverizing the Indianapolis Indians 10-2 tonight in front of 7,540 patrons at Louisville Slugger Field. The Bats had five starters with multi-hit games and smashed eight extra base hits, including three home runs. Danny Dorn and Darnell McDonald led the Bats with three hits while Luis Bolivar, Chris Denove, and Juan Francisco each had two.

The bottom of the first inning was kind to the Bats. Bolivar started the game with an infield hit and moved to second on his 20th stolen base of the season. McDonald drew a walk and Chris Heisey was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with no one out. Francisco lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring home Bolivar and Wes Bankston followed by smacking his 16th home run of the year, giving the Bats a 4-0 lead.

McDonald's finished the night 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run.

In the bottom of the second inning Bolivar got things started again by lining a double to left. McDonald then doubled to right bringing home Bolivar. Following an out, Francisco knocked in his second run the night on a double to left, pushing the Louisville lead to 6-0.

Francisco finished the night 2-for-4 with a double, home run, and three RBI's.

Indianapolis got on the board in the top of the fifth inning as Robinzon Diaz hit a 394-foot home run onto the home run terrace in left-center.

The Indians' momentum would not last. A half inning later Louisville answered with two runs. Dorn lobbed a bloop-single into right and came around to score on Chris Valaika's first triple of the season. Valaika then was able to score on Denove's sacrifice fly to left putting the Bats ahead 8-1.

Louisville launched two home runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to increase the lead to nine runs over the Indians. McDonald led off the inning with a home run and Francisco followed with his second home run in his first four games at the Triple=A level.

In the top of the ninth the Indians mounted a small rally but were only able to push across one run on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Clement.

In a game marked by the Bats offense they also got a solid outing by their starting pitcher. Matt Maloney (9-8, 2.96) worked six effortless innings giving up one run, five hits, and struck out seven.

Eric Hacker (5-6, 4.99) worked five innings to pick up the loss for Indianapolis. He was shelled giving up all ten runs on 13 hits, walked one, and struck out four. The ten runs is the most given up by an opposing starting pitcher all season.

The Indians and Bats will finish up their three-game series tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. Lefty Ben Jukich (7-5, 4.30) is the probable starter for Louisville and on the hill for the Indians will be Brad Lincoln (3-2, 5.56).