Ninth Inning Collapse Dooms Bats, 4-3

COLUMBUS, OH- The Louisville Bats looked to take the series advantage against the Columbus Clippers but fell just short, 4-3 in a ninth inning heartbreaker at Huntington Park. Aroldis Chapman was effective and Wilkin Castillo provided a solo home run, but it wasn't enough to overcome some late bullpen woes.

Making his tenth start of the season, LHP Aroldis Chapman went seven full innings, marking his longest outing of the season. He held the Clippers to just two earned runs and was in line for the win as the Bats went into the ninth inning with a 3-2 lead.

Closer Jon Adkins, who is tied for second on Louisville's all-time saves list, came in to finish off Columbus, but his struggles continued. Adkins, who has not recorded a save since May 10, allowed Carlos Santana to start off the inning with a double. After a groundout moved Santana to third, he scored and tied the game on a Chris Gimenez single. Gimenez, however, was thrown out at second base attempting to stretch the hit into a double.

With two outs, Adkins walked Nick Weglarz and Jordan Brown then delivered a pinch-hit double to left field, scoring Weglarz and ending the game.

Adkins (0-4, 7.58) took the loss and has failed to convert four of his last five save opportunities.

The Bats, who did not record a hit until Yonder Alonso's single in the fourth inning, trailed much of the game but took the lead from the Clippers in the seventh inning. Drew Sutton scored to tie the game, courtesy of a Wilkin Castillo RBI groundout, and then Chris Valaika delivered a two-out RBI single, scoring Luis Terrero and giving the Bats a late 3-2 lead.

Chapman recorded the no-decision, pitching seven effective inning, while allowing four hits and two earned runs. He struck out five and walked three.

Columbus' starter RHP Josh Tomlin also recorded a no-decision after retiring the first 11 Louisville hitters he faced. Frank Hermann (3-0, 0.31) replaced Tomlin to start the eighth inning and recorded the win for the Clippers. He pitched two innings of scoreless baseball and struck out three hitters.

Tomorrow the Bats wrap up the four-game series with the Clippers at Huntington Park. First pitch set for 11:35 a.m. LHP Matt Maloney (4-2, 2.66) who is looking to earn his fifth win of the season, will be on the hill for the Bats and will be opposed by RHP Carlos Carrasco (3-2, 4.36).