Louisville Bats Notes: June 23

TONIGHT'S GAME: Louisville and Norfolk continue a three-game series at Louisville Slugger Field, the last of three meetings between the clubs in 2018. Right-hander Homer Bailey will make his second rehab start for the Bats this season in what will be the penultimate game between the Bats and Tides this season. LOU lost 16-1 last night, serving up a season-high 16 runs and 20 hits in the series opener.

SENZEL TO MISS REST OF 2018: The Cincinnati Reds announced that infielder Nick Senzel will miss the remainder of the 2018 season to undergo surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right index finger.
- Senzel left Friday night's Louisville Bats game against the Norfolk Tides in the middle of the first inning at Louisville Slugger Field, being lifted for pinch-hitter Hernan Iribarren to start the bottom of the first.
- The 22-year-old has an active 11-game hitting streak, batting .440 (22-for-50) since the streak began on June 9, leading IL batters in batting average and hits during that span.
- Senzel's final game for LOU this season with a plate appearance (June 21) resulted in him hitting 2 home runs, the only multi-homer game for a Bats player this season, and the first since Brandon Dixon hit 3 home runs on August 20 last season.
- When he debuted with Louisville, No. 7 prospect Senzel was the first Baseball America Top 10 prospect to appear in a game for the Bats since LHP Aroldis Chapman in 2011, and the first position player since OF Jay Bruce in 2008.
AGAINST NORFOLK: The Bats and Tides have met 8 times this season, the first 7 matchups at Harbor Park and last night at LSF. NOR has dominated the season series to this point, winning 7 of 8. The Tides have outscored the Bats 48-24 this season. Before last night's 16-run outburst from the Tides' offense, five of the Bats' six losses to the Tides this season had come by 2 or fewer runs. Dating back to last season, 13 of the last 15 matchups have been decided by 2 or fewer runs, with the exceptions being May 5 (L 8-3) and last night.
DO YOU FEEL YOU'VE BEEN REHABILITATED?: When tonight's starter Homer Bailey pitched on June 11, he became the fifth MLB rehabber to pitch for the Bats this season, joining Anthony DeSclafani (5/25, 30), along with LHP Brandon Finnegan (4/9) and RHPs David Hernandez (4/20, 23, 25) and Kevin Shackelford (4/22), who have now combined for 8 rehab outings for Louisville this season, compiling an 9.27 ERA, with 23 earned runs in 22.1 innings on the mound. The Bats are just 1-7 as a club when a pitcher makes a rehab outing.
HERNAN'S EXPEDITION: Hernan Iribarren had an interesting game last night, pinch hitting for Nick Senzel in the first inning, going 2-for-4 and playing left field for seven innings. Iribarren's night became even more noteworthy when he came on to pitch the top of the ninth with the Bats trailing 12-1. It was the first time a position player has pitched for LOU this season, and it was Iribarren's 23rd career pitching appearance, all with the Bats.
GAME #70: The Bats play their 70th game of the season Saturday night. Last season, LOU owned a 28-42 record at the 70-game mark. In 2016, the Bats were 36-34 after 70 games.
IN THE REARVIEW: Louisville has allowed 29 runs in their last 2 games, the most runs surrendered in a two-game span since the 1996 Redbirds surrendered 32 runs in a two-game span. On July 1-2 that season, LOU dropped back-to-back home games to the Buffalo Bisons by 13-6 (G2 DH on 7/1) and 19-10 (7/2) scores.
NICK 50NGHI: Nick Longhi made his Triple-A debut on Friday night, becoming the 50th player to appear in a game for the Bats this season. Last year, 66 different players suited up for the Bats.