Meyer struggles as Rochester falls in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY - The Louisville Bats used seven straight hits to begin the third inning against Rochester starter Alex Meyer to cruise to a 10-5 victory over the Red Wings at Louisville Slugger Field Saturday evening.

Things started well for the Red Wings (16-12) against Louisville starter David Holmberg (1-3) as Aaron Hicks led off the game with a single and later scored on a Reynaldo Rodriguez base hit to give the Wings a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

The Bats (12-17) used a one-out walk of Irving Falu and a Josh Satin sacrifice fly two batters later to knot the game at one after an inning of play.

Meyer (2-2) was fortunate that Eugenio Suarez, the leadoff hitter in the third inning, was thrown out at third trying to stretch a double into a triple for the first out. Six consecutive singles by the Bats (12-17) followed to score four runs. Meyer recorded a strikeout before Yorman Rodriguez hit a long three-run home run to chase the righty. He finished his night by allowing eight runs on nine hits and one walk with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings, the shortest outing by a Rochester starter this season.

Louisville would add two runs in a fourth to stretch the advantage to 10-1.

Danny Ortiz hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth. Ortiz has homered in back-to-back games and now leads the team with five home runs and 20 RBI. Hicks quietly reached base in four trips, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and a run scored.

Next up: LHP Jason Wheeler (1-1, 5.40) opposes Louisville righty Jon Mascot (4-0, 2.78) as the Wings complete a brief six-game road trip Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m.

Next Home Game: Monday, May 11 vs. Toledo at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets: Order tickets online, anytime at RedWingsBaseball.com/Tickets or call 423-WING (9464) to charge by phone, Mon-Fri. 9 am-5 pm

Promotions: Check out complete, updated home game promotion details at RedWingsBaseball.com/Fun