Gutierrez strikes out 13 as Bats win final road game, 2-1

TOLEDO, Ohio - The Louisville Bats (58-80) defeated the Toledo Mud Hens (66-72) on Saturday night at Fifth Third Field to earn a series split. In the Bats' final road game of the season, Vladimir Gutierrez tied a team-high 13 strikeouts en route to a 2-1 Louisville victory.

Gutierrez was not superb right out of the gate, allowing a run to cross in the bottom of the first when Jeimer Candelario's RBI single scored Daz Cameron. Gutierrez hit Cameron by a pitch to start the game, with the outfielder advancing to second base on a throwing error by Gutierrez on a pickoff attempt.
After the first inning, Gutierrez was spectacular, allowing just the one unearned run on three hits, walking three and striking out a career-high 13 in 6.0 innings of work. The right-hander threw 102 pitches and 67 strikes, as he recorded his sixth win in what will likely be his final appearance of 2019.
Louisville leadoff hitter José Peraza went 3-for-4 in his second game since being optioned, batting .625 (5-for-8) with the Bats. Louisville tied the game 1-1 in the second inning when Narciso Crook's RBI double scored Nick Ciuffo, and took the lead when Peraza knocked in Blake Trahan with a single.
Bats relievers Junichi Tazawa and Alex Powers combined for 3.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, with Tazawa making his Louisville debut. Powers recorded his second career Triple-A save.
Louisville Slugger Field will play host to the Bats and Indianapolis Indians for the regular season's final two days on Sunday and Monday, with right-hander Tejay Antone (3-8, 4.87) set to go for Louisville and the Indians yet to announce their starting pitcher.