Louisville Bats Notes: July 29

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Louisville "Colonels" and Rochester Red Wings face off for the final time in 2018 tonight at Louisville Slugger Field. Louisville got back on track yesterday, winning by a 5-2 score. The Bats have now won 10 of their last 12 games. Right-hander Robert Stephenson will get the ball for Louisville as the Bats go for their fourth straight series victory.

AGAINST ROCHESTER: Louisville began its season-best 9-game winning streak against Rochester on July 17 with a commanding 12-5 win over the Wings on the road. With a win today, the Bats would have their first home series win against Rochester since 2015 when they went 2-1. Louisville has not won a home and road series against Rochester in the same season since 1999.
A SERIES OF FORTUNATE EVENTS: With a win today, the Bats would have their fourth consecutive series victory. Louisville last won 4+ straight series from April 24 - May 8, 2016, sweeping 3 games at Norfolk (4/24-4/26), taking 4 of 5 from Durham in a split series (4/27-5/1), taking 2 of 3 vs. Norfolk (5/2-5/4) and taking 2 of 3 at Indianapolis (5/6-5/8).
-The Bats last won 4+ consecutive series without a split series involved from May 15-27, 2015, sweeping 3 games at Gwinnett (5/15-5/17), taking 2 of 3 vs. Norfolk (5/18-5/20), 3 of 4 vs. Pawtucket (5/21-5/24) and 2 of 3 vs. Toledo (5/25-5/27).
TRANSACTIONS: The Cincinnati Reds optioned right-hander Austin Brice to Class AAA Louisville, while right-hander Zack Weiss was transferred to Class AA Pensacola to make room on the roster for him. Weiss started for Louisville in the opening game of the current series against Rochester.
DI-ONER OF BATTING 3RD: On Saturday, Chadwick Tromp became the first Bats catcher to bat third in Louisville's starting lineup since Dioner Navarro started 4 games in the three-spot during the 2012 season. In 62 games with Louisville that season, Navarro batted .319 (66-for-207) with 5 home runs and 32 RBI and was named an IL All-Star.
AGENT CODY REED: Left-hander Cody Reed was excellent in his start on Saturday, going 7.2 innings and allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits, walking none and striking out 9. His game score of 81 was the second-best for a Louisville starting pitcher this season. It was Reed's first win since June 24 vs. the Norfolk Tides.
FOUR BY FOUR: For the month of July, the Bats are the only club that ranks in the top four in both team batting average (.267) and earned run average (3.40). Louisville's team average for the month trails only Gwinnett, Lehigh Valley and Durham. Their ERA on the mound trails only Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Pawtucket.
SCHEBLER ON REHAB: Major League rehabber Scott Schebler went 1-for-2 with a double, RBI and 2 walks in his third game during his current rehab stint with Louisville on Friday. He has appeared as the designated hitter in all 3 games, batting .222 (2-for-9) with 3 walks and one strikeout at the plate.
TODAY'S STARTING PITCHER: ROBERT STEPHENSON
Last Time Out: Stephenson was nearly flawless in his last start, tossing 7.0 scoreless innings against Buffalo in game one of a doubleheader. The right-hander's complete game shutout in the 3-0 Bats win was the first 7.0-inning CG shutout by a Louisville pitcher since right-hander Homer Bailey threw one on May 2, 2009 also against Buffalo. It was Stephenson's third career complete game (and first since 5/9/16 at Toledo), and his first career shutout.
In The Mix for Six: Stephenson has won 5 consecutive starts, a feat last accomplished for Louisville by right-hander Jon Moscot, who won his first 5 starts of the 2015 season. If Stephenson wins his next start, he would become the first Louisville pitcher to win 6+ consecutive starts since left-hander Charles Larry "Justin" Lehr won 6 straight from June 3-29, 2009. Lehr won 2009 IL Pitcher of the Year honors that season, going 8-1 with a 2.51 ERA in 12 games (11 starts), walking 10 and striking out 40 in 75.1 innings.
Against Rochester: Sunday will be Stephenson's third career start against the Red Wings, and his second start against them in his last 3 outings. Last time out against them, he tossed a quality start, giving up just 2 runs in 7.0 innings of work in what was his fourth consecutive win at the time. The Bats won that game 12-5 over the Red Wings, beginning a season-long 9-game winning streak.
League Leaders: Stephenson comes into tonight's start tied for the IL lead in wins (10) with Indy's Tyler Eppler. The right-hander leads the IL in opponent's batting average, keeping opposing hitters to just a .198 clip on the season. Stephenson is also 6th in ERA (3.06) and tied for 2nd in strikeouts (117).
2018 Notes: Stephenson won 3 straight starts from May 11-23 and has currently won 3 straight, the only LOU pitcher to accomplish that this season, and the first LOU pitcher to do it since Rookie Davis won 3 straight from August 15-25, 2017...The Bats won during Robert Stephenson starts on May 11, 18 and 23, going a combined 0-9 in between those starts. It was the first time LOU won in a starting pitcher's 3 consecutive starts and lost each game in between since LHP Chris Michalak (mah-HALL-ick) led the Bats to victory on May 1, 10 and 16, 2006, with LOU dropped each game in between.