Jay Bruce Remains with Bats in Playoffs
Alonso, drafted seventh overall in the first round of the 2008 draft, will be making his Triple-A debut when he appears for the Bats. The first baseman began the season with Single-A Sarasota (49g, .303-7-38) and was promoted to Double-A Carolina June 1 (29g, .287-2-14). Alonso was placed on the disabled list June 18 with a fractured right hamate in his hand and played six rehab games with the GCL Reds before being reinstated from the DL August 22; Alonso finished the season with the Mudcats. In 84 games overall, he hit a combined .292 (86-295) with nine homers and 52 RBI.
Outfielder Jay Bruce, who is with the Bats on Major League rehab, will remain with the team through at least their series with Durham. Bruce fractured his right wrist while diving for a ball and has been on Cincinnati's disabled list since July 26. Catcher Ryan Hanigan left Louisville and will not be with the team in Durham. Hanigan was with the Bats on Major League rehab to recover from a concussion he suffered Aug. 23; hit safely in all five rehab games with the Bats.
The Bats and Bulls are squaring off for the fourth time in the post-season since Louisville joined the International League in 1998. Durham defeated the Redbirds in 1998 (3-0), the Bats in 2003 (3-1) and then eliminated the Bats, 3-1, last season. The only IL Championship came in 2001 when the RiverBats were named the winner after defeating Norfolk in the first round (3-2) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (1-0) in the finals; the finals were shortened that year due to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
The Bats return home for games three through five Friday, Sept. 11 (7:05 p.m.), Saturday, Sept. 12 (6:05 p.m.) and Sunday, Sept. 13 (5:05 p.m.); games four and five will be played, if necessary, Sept. 12-13. The winner of the Louisville/Durham series will play the winner of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Gwinnett series that opens tonight in Gwinnett.