Rough Third Inning Sinks Bats in Series Opening 8-1 Loss

A six-run third inning was too much for the Louisville Bats to overcome in an 8-1 loss to the Gwinnett Stripers in the opener of a six-game series on Tuesday night.

Gwinnett jumped out in front of the Bats early in the first inning and never looked back. Jim Jarvis walked off Louisville’s starter Jose Acuna with one out and later scored from first on a Rowdy Tellez single, which gave the Stripers an early 1-0 lead.

The Bats threatened in the bottom half of the frame but failed to respond. Michael Chavis walked to load the bases with two outs, but Leo Balcazar flew out to end the inning. With the first-inning disappointment in the rearview mirror, Will Benson refused to allow Louisville to exit the second inning scoreless.

After battling to a 3-2 count, Benson obliterated a fastball 113 mph way out in right field. The moonshot, hit 447 feet, is tied for the fourth-longest Bats homer of the year.

The tie didn’t last long, as the Stripers offense erupted with six runs in the third. Acuna and Cam Cotter allowed a combined three walks and three hits, including a three-run shot that aided the Stripers' 7-1 lead. Acuna allowed four runs on three hits, walked three and struck out one but was pulled after recording one out in the third.

Cotter recorded the final two outs of the inning but first allowed three runs on two hits and a walk. Tellez’s tear continued in the fourth as he greeted Bats reliever Darius Vines with a solo home run. The big fly boosted Gwinnett’s lead to 8-1.

The Bats failed to record a hit in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, but Vines backed up the offense to keep the game on life support. He threw a scoreless fifth and sixth innings in his second game of the season with Louisville.

Graham Ashcraft worked around a hit and a walk to throw a scoreless seventh inning in his first rehab appearance with the Bats. He also struck out two batters in his return.

Chase Petty followed that up with a scoreless eighth and ninth inning of his own. Louisville’s offense was quiet the rest of the way in the loss.

Benson’s homer was his first since July 30 against the Indians. Juan Brito has now hit safely in eight of his last 10 games, and Petty has recorded three consecutive shutout appearances.

The Bats will face the Stripers again on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. Jared Lyons (1-5, 5.12) will get the ball for Louisville. Nick Curran and Jim Kelch will have the call on Sports Talk 790.