Bats Drop Series Opener To Mud Hens 7-2
The Louisville Bats were defeated 7-2 in the opener of a six-game series against the Toledo Mud Hens at Louisville Slugger Field on Wednesday, a contest that took two days to complete. Due to the more than three-hour delay of game one, the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader will be
The Louisville Bats were defeated 7-2 in the opener of a six-game series against the Toledo Mud Hens at Louisville Slugger Field on Wednesday, a contest that took two days to complete.
Due to the more than three-hour delay of game one, the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader will be postponed to Thursday, August 13, with game one beginning at 4:35 p.m. and gates opening at 4 p.m. Game two of the doubleheader will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one, and both contests will be seven-inning games.
Brandon Williamson made his second straight rehab start with the Bats, and third minor league appearance overall, as he recovers from left shoulder fatigue.
The southpaw struggled to settle in, allowing a leadoff double on the game’s first pitch. He followed with four straight fastballs outside of the strike zone, forfeiting a walk. Williamson rebounded nicely to retire the next three batters, including a strikeout.
Louisville’s offense stranded two base runners of their own in the bottom of the first, with Will Benson reaching on a single and Michael Chavis via a base on balls.
As a scoreless second began, ominous clouds took shape overhead. Williamson allowed a single to open the frame, but the threat was immediately neutralized on a caught stealing spearheaded by Will Banfield. Williamson took care of the rest with a ground out and a strikeout before the skies opened and the game was suspended.
Action resumed between the two teams on Wednesday evening as part of a doubleheader.
The Bats began on offense in the bottom of the second, going down in order at the hands of Detroit Tigers rehabbing pitcher Brant Hurter.
Chase Petty (L, 2-6) took the mound for Louisville in the top of the third, his first appearance with the Bats since July 8 after spending time with the Reds. The Mud Hens collected two singles and a walk to load the bases with one out, before Josue Briceno opened the scoring with a three-run double.
Toledo added to their lead in the following inning, despite two quick outs recorded by Petty. A hit batter, single, and walk loaded the bases and signaled the end of Petty’s evening on the mound. Max Anderson then delivered a two-run single to extend the Mud Hens advantage to 5-0.
Louisville’s offense remained quiet through the fourth, with nine of their first 10 batters failing to reach base following the game’s resumption.
Justice Bigbie hit a solo home run off Cameron Cotter in the top of the fifth, adding a tally to the Toledo lead.
Banfield singled, and Dominic Pitelli walked with one out in the home half of the fifth, but a ground ball double play off the bat of Urbaez neutralized the threat.
Reliever Chase Solesky made his second appearance with the Bats, working a scoreless sixth, capped by a called third strike. It was the first scoreless inning from Bats pitching since the previous night’s top of the second and Solesky’s first Reds organizational strikeout.
Two Bats were granted a free pass in the seventh, but the two-out opportunity did not come to pass, as Leo Balcazar harmlessly flied out to end the inning.
Toledo added a run on a Trei Cruz sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth with Connor Phillips on the mound for the Bats.
Trailing 7-0 in the bottom of the eighth, the Bats got a spark from a leadoff double by Edwin Arroyo. Michael Chavis drove in his team’s first run on an RBI double two batters later.
Kevin Abel made his season debut with the Bats in the ninth, his second career Triple-A stint. Abel pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout.
The Bats loaded the bases in the final frame, scoring one on a wild pitch. Their attempt at a rally would ultimately fall short.
Despite piecing together seven hits and six walks, the Bats offense went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding a total of 11 base runners. Pitelli was the only Bat with two hits, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Chavis collected the lone RBI, his 65th of the season.
The Bats (51-62, 12-28 2nd half) continue their homestand against the Toledo Mud Hens (54-60) Thursday afternoon with a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 4:35 p.m.