O'Grady hits 2 homers, ties franchise record in 12-9 win

LOUISVILLE, Ky - The Louisville Bats (35-57) offense came to life early and late in the game to beat the Toledo Mud Hens (41-51) by a score of 12-9 Saturday night at Louisville Slugger Field. Bats' starter Lucas Sims (5-0, 4.56) once again had an impressive outing, but the night would be highlighted by Brian O'Grady's two home runs. 

The Bats' offense pounced on Mud Hens starter Drew VerHagen (4-2, 4.82) early on, tallying four runs in both the first and second innings to make the score 8-1. The offensive outburst would be highlighted by Brian O'Grady's three-run homer in the second inning, his 23rd of the season. Right fielder Aristides Aquino added a homer of his own in the fourth inning, a solo shot making it a 9-1 lead. 
Making his first start out of the break, despite recording the no-decision, Sims picked off where he left off keeping his perfect record intact. Sims tossed 5.0 innings scattering four hits and four walks, striking out five while allowing just one run. Sims' 100th strikeout of the season came in the top of the fifth putting him in the lead of the International League. In addition to moving into the league-lead in strikeouts, Sims also kept pace being one of only three pitchers in professional baseball (Levels A-MLB) who does not have a loss among qualified candidates. 
The Mud Hens offense would rally back slowly but surely tacking on a run in the sixth and seventh as well as six runs in the eighth, erasing the eight-run deficit to knot the game at 9. The tie game would barely last thanks to O'Grady who would smack a three-run home run to put Louisville up 12-9. 
O'Grady's second homer of the night extends his franchise record making it his sixth multi-home run game of the season. His eight RBI on the night ties Josh VanMeter for the most in a game, who did it earlier in the season on the road on April 29 at Toledo.
Reliever Eric Stout (2-1, 6.84) would wind up picking up the win for Louisville, as R.J. Alaniz notched the save, his second of the season. 
The Bats look to take the series vs the Mud Hens as they wrap-up their four-game tilt at Louisville Slugger Field Sunday at 2:00 pm. Righty Vladimir Gutierrez (2-7, 7.04) is expected to start for Louisville as left-hander Tyler Alexander (3-9, 5.91) is expected to toe the rubber for Toledo.