Despite Three Homers, Bats Fall To Saints 4-3

Although the Louisville Bats looked to come back late in the game with three homers in two innings, they fall to the St. Paul Saints in a tense 4-3 matchup on Wednesday afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field.

After sitting the first six down in order, Louisville starting pitcher Julian Aguiar (L, 1-3) faced trouble in the third. He allowed his first hit of the day, then two straight walks loaded the bases with nobody out. A back pickoff attempt to third base was chalked up as interference on Bats third baseman Francisco Urbaez, which allowed one run in. But Aguiar popped two men out shortly after. He walked another runner to load the bases once more, but would fight out of the jam to keep St. Paul’s lead at 1-0.

The Bats' first hit came in the fourth inning with one out, when Michael Toglia doubled off the wall. No runs scored from the inning, however, as the Saints defense gunned Hector Rodriguez out at home trying to score on Toglia's double and struck one out to escape the inning.

St. Paul added extra insurance in the fifth with a two-RBI double by Gabriel Gonzalez. Those two men reached base via Tanner Schobel doubling on a high pop-up that Dominic Pitelli lost in the sun and another walk, Aguiar’s fourth of the day.

Aguiar’s day ended after five innings, when Hagen Danner came in and struck out the side. Aguiar finished with 5.0 innings pitched, allowing three runs on three hits and striking out six.

Louisville finally notched a run during the home half of the seventh inning, when both Michael Chavis and Toglia crushed back-to-back homers to cut the deficit down to 3-2.

Saints starter Aaron Rozek (W, 2-0) was pulled after that, going a quality 6.0 innings while allowing the two Bats runs on four hits, striking out five.

Luis Mey celebrated his birthday by making a pitching appearance for the Bats. The now 25-year-old pitched one inning for Louisville, allowing one run and striking out three. That one run came from a single by Schobel and extended the lead for St. Paul 4-2.

The Bats responded quickly with a home run coming from the hottest bat on the team, Rodriguez. He smacked a solo shot 433 feet to right to cut the lead back down to one, 4-3.

Louisville did not make it easy on St. Paul in the bottom of the ninth, putting two runners aboard with one out. However, two straight strikeouts by Taylor Rashi (SV, 1) put the game out of reach for the Bats.

All of Louisville’s runs came by way of the long ball today, but the story of the game was pitching. The four Louisville pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts. They also stranded 10 on base for St. Paul, which kept the game as close.

The Bats (40-35, 1-1 2nd half) continue their series with the Saints (43-33, 1-1 2nd half) on Thursday night.

First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. EST at Slugger Field. Nick Curran and Jim Kelch will be on the call on Sports Talk 790.