Lorenzo Leads Louisville to 7-5 Win Over Iowa

DES MOINES, IA- The Louisville Bats (44-63) evened their series with the Iowa Cubs (48-59) at 1-1 with a 7-5 win on Wednesday night at Principal Park.

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Louisville outfielder Lorenzo Cedrola tallied his 30th multi-hit game of the season, going 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, including the go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning.

Former Cincinnati Red, and current Chicago Cub rehabber, Wade Miley (0-0, 4.09) got the nod for the I-Cubs and was dialed in from the first pitch of the ball game. He cruised through four scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits and a walk while striking out five, before running into trouble in the fifth.

Louisville outfielder Stuart Fairchild doubled to start the frame and was moved to third when designated hitter Isiah Gilliam lined a base hit into left field. After Gilliam stole second, Louisville backstop Chris Okey was able to stay out of a potential double play and plate a run with a ground-out RBI.

Following the play, Miley was pulled in favor of reliever Bryan Hudson who was not able to completely neutralize the Louisville threat. Bats outfielder Lorenzo Cedrola welcomed Hudson to the game with his second hit of the game, an RBI-single, pushing the Bats to a 2-0 lead.

Not to be outdone by his counterpart, Louisville starter Randy Wynne (4-10, 5.04) also cruised through five scoreless innings, scattering just three hits with three strikeouts and a pair of walks, but his troublesome inning would come in the sixth.

Iowa second baseman David Bote started the inning with a bang and cut the lead in half with one swing, sending a solo shot over the left center field wall. The homer seemed to set the tone for the inning as the Cubs exploded for five runs, including a three-run shot from third baseman Jared Young.

The Bats bounced back in the next half inning, striking for three runs of their own, led by a two-run home run from Isiah Gilliam and an RBI-single from TJ Friedl that tied the game at 5-5.

Following the three-run Louisville seventh, each team went quietly into the ninth inning. Lorenzo Cedrola came through again for the Bats with an RBI-double that stayed just inside the first-base bag to plate the go-ahead run. TJ Friedl added an insurance run with a foul-ground sacrifice fly to give Louisville the final 7-5 lead.

Louisville closer Fernando Cruz entered the game and quickly retired the first two batters he saw, but got into a bit of trouble by letting two on base to bring former Bat Narciso Crook to the plate. Cruz induced a fly ball to left to end the game and earn his league-leading 19th save of the season.

Game three of the six game series is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at Principal Park (August 11), with first pitch scheduled for 1:08 p.m. Louisville lefty Brandon Williamson (1-3, 4.10) will face off against Iowa’s right-hander, Caleb Kilian (4-1, 3.53).