Andy Phillips' Grand Slam Extends Hitting Streak 11 Games
After dropping three of four to the Richmond Braves, the Bats came back to salvage the road trip and take three of four from the Norfolk Tides.
Norfolk jumped on Bats starter Adam Pettyjohn (3-0, 4.74) early and scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. However, Louisville came back in a big way, scoring six runs in the fifth. Paul Janish, Luis Bolivar and Andy Green led off the inning with three straight singles. After Chris Dickerson grounded out, scoring Janish, and Jay Bruce was intentially walked, Phillips blasted a grand slam to clear the bases and put the Bats up 6-2.
Phillips' home run today extended his team-high hitting streak to 11 games. Since April 27, he's batting .370 with eight runs, two doubles, 12 rbi and three home runs. He's raised his average from .277 to its current mark of .315.
The Tides came roaring back, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Norfolk singled four consecutive times, scoring three and making the score 6-5.
Back-to-back doubles by Dickerson and Bruce put the Bats ahead in the top of the sixth, 8-5.
Norfolk scored one run in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings, but couldn't finish the come back on Gary Majewski, who earned his second save of the season.
Pettyjohn picked up the victory and stayed undefeated, but had his shortest outing of the season, going just five innings this afternoon. Ryan Hanigan went 3-for-4 and Dickerson and Bruce both had two-hit games for the Bats.
Tides starter Jon Leicester (2-2, 6.03) gave up six runs on nine hits in five innings pitched. Terrero had a huge day at the plate going 4-for-5 with a double, triple, two runs scored and two RBI.
Louisville comes home Friday to start a 10-game homstand that includes Richmond, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Indianapolis. RHP Justin Lehr (3-1, 2.75) will start for the Bats Friday while LHP Francisley Bueno (0-1, 4.80) gets the nod for the R-Braves. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.