Bats Win Jousting Match Against Knights, 11-7
Chris Denove drove in the first run of the game off a sharp grounder to third base, which gave Louisville an early 1-0 lead in the second.
The Knights wasted no time in answering, as they recorded four runs of their own in the bottom of the second. Two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Charlotte, with only one out. Alejandro De Aza's sacrifice fly drove in the first Knights run, and was immediately followed by a single from Luis Rodriguez to drive in a second run. Buck Coats hit his eleventh double of the season to drive in the remaining two runs of the inning, but he was thrown out as he tried to advance to third to end the second.
Refusing to be quiet after the Knights' storm, Yonder Alonso and Juan Francisco slammed back-to-back homers in the third to bring the Bats within one, 4-3.
After a scoreless fourth, the Bats once again took control of the game. With two outs in the fifth, Chris Dickerson singled to score Zack Cozart, who led off the inning with a single, which tied the game at four. Chris Valaika followed up with a single to plate Yonder Alonso, who reached on a walk, and Dickerson. Valaika's double gave Louisville a 6-4 edge over Charlotte.
Rodriguez tried to fuel a comeback by the Knights as he blasted a lead-off home run to kick off the bottom of the fifth, but it proved to be the only Charlotte run of the inning.
Louisville added a security run in the sixth off a ground out by Francisco, but the Knights quickly came back to tie the game at seven as Stefan Gartrell and Fernando Cortez hit back-to-back homeruns in the bottom of the inning.
Dickerson hit his first homerun of the season to start the seventh and give Louisville the lead once again. A single by Gary Matthews Jr. and ground out by Cozart drove in two more runs to expand Louisville's lead to 10-7.
The Bats added a final run as Wladimir Balentien stepped into the game for Dickerson and hit his sixteenth home run of the season.
Dickerson went 2-3 for the night with his first two RBI of the season. He scored three runs, walked once, and struck out once. Valaika also had a successful offensive night for the Bats, as he went 3-5 with two RBI. Denove was the only other Louisville batter to have a multi-hit game. Drew Sutton, who walked twice, was the only player in the Bats hitting rotation who did not have a hit on the night.
Bats reliever Jared Burton (2-2, 2.57) earned the win for Louisville. Burton pitched two innings, gave up one hit and no runs, and struck out three. The Bats bullpen threw four scoreless innings following the exit of starter Chad Reineke.
Reliever Freddy Dolsi (2-4, 4.31) was charged with the loss for the Knights. Dolsi threw two innings and gave up four runs off five hits.
The Bats begin a four-game road series against the Gwinnet Braves on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. RHP Sam LeCure (6-2, 2.55) will take the mound for Louisville against LHP Jose Ortegano (2-7, 6.12). The Bats will look for a win to push them over the .500 mark for the first time since they were 3-2 on Apr. 12.
The Bats return to Louisville Slugger Field next Tuesday for a four-game series against the Charlotte Knights. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.