LOUSVILLE, Ky. -- The Louisville Bats (26-43) dropped the first game of a three-game series with the Norfolk Tides (37-33) 16-1 Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
LOUSVILLE, Ky. -- The Louisville Bats (26-43) dropped the first game of a three-game series with the Norfolk Tides (37-33) 16-1 Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
Norfolk scored three runs in the first and third innings and took a 6-0 lead before the game experienced a forty-minute rain delay. Unfortunately, while the weather broke, the Tides' offensive prowess did not as they scored 10 more runs over the next six innings, including four coming on a grand slam by catcher Andrew Susac in the fourth.
The sixteen runs and twenty hits by Norfolk mark a season high for most given up by the Bats in both categories.
Louisville's lone run was scored by on an RBI single by third baseman D.J. Peterson that brought home designated hitter Dilson Herrera in the fourth.
The Bats used a sextet of pitchers in the game with starter Brandon Finnegan (2-6, 7.24) working three and one-third inning and suffering the loss after giving up 10 runs and nine hits on 80 pitches, forty-five strikes. Evan Mitchell (1-1, 4.00) gave up two runs in one and two-thirds innings of relief, while Wandy Peralta (0-0, 0.00), Tanner Rainey (1-1, 1.75), and Jimmy Herget (1-2, 3.77) each tossed a scoreless frame in their stints out of the bullpen. Position player Hernan Iribarren tossed the ninth inning, his first appearance on the mound of the season, and gave up four runs.
Nick Senzel left the game after the top of the first following an apparent injury to his right throwing hand.
Norfolk starter John Means (3-1, 3.79) was awarded the victory after tossing six innings and giving up one run on five hits.
Louisville will have a chance to even the series a one game apiece tomorrow afternoon as Homer Bailey (0-1, 15.00) will make his second rehab start of the season for the Bats. Bailey is scheduled to square off with Tides right-hander Tim Melville (5-5, 5.29). First pitch at Louisville Slugger Field is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
