Louisville Bats Notes: July 24

TONIGHT'S GAME(S): The Louisville Bats and Buffalo Bisons face off in a doubleheader at Louisville Slugger Field on Tuesday night. The Bats are currently riding a 6-game winning streak, their longest of the season. Right-hander Robert Stephenson , who has won his last 4 starts, is set to toe the rubber for Louisville in game one, with right-hander Domingo Tapia slated to start the second game of the twin bill.

AGAINST BUFFALO: Louisville and Buffalo will meet for the first time in 2018 tonight in a doubleheader. The clubs were scheduled to meet back in mid-April at Buffalo, but all 3 games were either postponed or cancelled due to inclement weather. The Bisons are the final team that Louisville has yet to face in 2018. Last season, Buffalo took the season series by a 4-3 advantage, taking three of four from LOU at LSF, with the Bats taking two of three at Buffalo.
LET'S PLAY TWO!: Tonight marks the second doubleheader for the Bats this season, with their first coming on May 20 at Norfolk, losing 3-1 and 6-5. It's the first doubleheader at Louisville Slugger Field since August 28 last season vs. Indianapolis, losing game one 7-1 before winning 4-3 on an Adam Brett Walker walk-off homer in the bottom of the eighth.
ROOT, ROOT, ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM?: The second game of tonight's doubleheader, a makeup of an April 17 game at Buffalo, will have Louisville as the "road" team, batting first despite playing in its home ballpark. The last time LOU batted first in a game at LSF was August 15 last season, acting as the "road" team in game 2 of a doubleheader against Pawtucket in the same scenario, winning that game by a 5-1 score after winning game one by a 3-1 score.
WWWWWW: The Bats have won 6 straight games for the first time since April 24-29, 2016, when they swept back-to-back three-game series at Norfolk and at Norfolk. The Bats last won 7 or more games in a row back in 2012, winning 9 straight games from June 18-26.
SWEEP THE LEG: Coming off the four-game sweep at Syracuse, the Bats have now swept two series this season, winning all 3 games vs. Gwinnett from June 1-3 and at Syracuse July 19-22. Louisville also earned its first four-game sweep since June 14-16, 2013 at Norfolk, sweeping the Tides in 4 games at Harbor Park.
BATS TOOK THE FORK IN THE ROAD: The Bats have won 6 straight road games and have won 9 of their last 11 games away from Louisville Slugger Field since June 30. Before the active streak, LOU last won 6+ consecutive road games in 2016, winning 9 straight road games at Columbus (4/13 DH), Norfolk (4/24-4/26), Durham (4/27-4/29) and Indianapolis (5/6).
MR. MELLA AND QUACK ON TRACK: Right-hander Keury Mella was excellent in his third start for Louisville this season, tossing 8.0 innings of one-run ball in the Bats' 3-1 win at Syracuse on Sunday to complete the four-game series sweep. Right-hander Kevin Quackenbush notched his 15th save of the season in his 17th save opportunity, tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts.
VANMETER FOUND THE HEATER: Infielder Josh VanMeter has been tearing it up lately, currently riding a 5-game hitting streak, tied for his longest with Louisville this season. VanMeter is batting .381 (8-for-21) with 3 runs, a double, triple and home run, and 8 RBI since the streak began on July 16.