Chapman Earns Third Win as Bats Down Wings, 5-2
Chapman (3-1, 2.84) cruised through the first three innings striking out four Rochester batters. The crowd lost their breath, though, in the top of the fourth inning when Chapman was struck in the upper part of his left leg with a line drive off the bat of Mark Macri. Chapman recovered quickly to make the putout, but appeared to limp back to the mound wincing in pain. He would be ok and continued the game without any issues.
After a short delay, Chapman was back on the mound but would struggle getting through the fourth inning. He gave up a home run, two singles, a walk, and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt at first base before recording his fifth strikeout of the day to escape the jam.
Chapman would leave the game with two outs in the fifth after throwing 111 pitches. He allowed one run off four hits and walked five while striking out six.
The Bats took the early lead with a second inning home run from Todd Frazier. Frazier's second long ball of the season to center field put the Bats up 1-0.
Louisville added a second run in the bottom of the third inning. Zack Cozart put himself into scoring position with a double to left field, then let Rochester pitcher Ryan Mullins do the rest of the work bringing him home. Cozart advanced to third base then took home off two wild pitches by the Red Wings starter.
Rochester would answer right back in the top of the fourth inning with a solo shot of their own. Luke Hughes blasted his first home run of the season into the left field stands, cutting the Bats lead to one.
The Bats put their third run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning. Juan Francisco reached first on a walk with one out. He moved to third on a double from Chris Valaika, then crossed the plate on a groundout by Wilkin Castillo giving the Bats a 3-1 lead.
Louisville manufactured two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to cap off their scoring for the day. Chris Burke and Cozart started the inning reaching base off a single and a walk, respectively. The two then swiped second and third base on a double steal before being brought home by a Wladimir Balentien single.
Superb relief pitching by the Bats' Logan Ondrusek would shut down the Red Wings through the seventh and eighth inning, putting Louisville in prime position for the win. He threw 2.1 innings surrendering no hits and striking out two.
Rochester added one final run in the top of the ninth off Louisville reliever Jesus Delgado, but could not salvage the game or the series.
Rochester starter Mullins took his second loss of the season moving his record to 2-2. He threw 5.2 innings striking out six, while giving up three earned runs off seven hits and three walks.
Louisville will close out their homestand with a four game series against the Buffalo Bisons starting Monday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Justin Lehr (0-3, 5.81) will take the mound for the Bats opposing LHP Pat Misch (2-0, 4.13) for the Bisons.