LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Two early home runs secured the Bats fifth series win of the season as Louisville (28-43) took down the Norfolk Tides (37-35), 5-1 in the series finale Sunday night at Louisville Slugger Field
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Two early home runs secured the Bats fifth series win of the season as Louisville (28-43) took down the Norfolk Tides (37-35), 5-1 in the series finale Sunday night at Louisville Slugger Field
Cody Reed (2-5, 3.92) was dealing, going seven innings in his third consecutive start for the first time in his career. Showing that he can hit the plate and retire batters consistently, Reed allowed one earned run (a solo homer) from five hits while walking three and striking out six.
Yefry Ramírez (3-5, 3.88) took the loss for the Tides. He went 6.1 innings allowing two earned runs from seven hits while walking one and striking out four.
The Bats were hot from the start offensively. Mason Williams crushed a leadoff home run in the first, sending the ball 402-feet into right field to take an early lead. The last recorded leadoff home run occurred on April 13th against Lehigh Valley.
Norfolk answered immediately in similar fashion in the second. Chance Sisco was the first batter at the plate and sent a solo homer over the wall to tie the game. In response, Reed allowed nothing more, striking out the following two batters to end the inning.
New to Louisville, Nick Longhi showed his stuff in the bottom of the second. He recorded his first Triple-A hit with a single and went on to steal second base. He threatened when a wild pitch pushed him to third, but he was left stranded before he could reach home.
D.J. Peterson had all the answers in the sixth. He blasted his seventh homer for the season to left field to take a 2-1 Louisville lead. The Bats last recorded a pair of homers on June 21st when Nick Senzel shot two against Durham.
The following inning brought in another run when Steve Selsky, with runners at second and first, smacked a line drive single to score Mason Williams to add a buffer and make it 3-1 Louisville.
Ultimately, it was D.J. Peterson who came in to steal the show once more in the bottom of the seventh. Connecting for a two-run double, the ball found the wall allowing Selsky and Guerrero to reach home and extend the lead to 5-1. The Bats clinched the win in eight and a half innings for the first time this home stand.
Louisville will hit the road on Monday when they head to Ohio to face the Columbus Clippers for a three-game series. Right-handed starter Robert Stephenson (5-6, 3.91) will go for his sixth win this season. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
