Bush shuts out Bats in series finale, 2-0
As good as Tomko was on Tuesday afternoon, his former teammate, Dave Bush, was just a little better. Bush (4-3, 2.73) kept the Bats off-balance the entire game en route to the first complete game shutout by an IronPigs pitcher this season. He allowed just five hits on the game and after allowing a two-out double to Cody Puckett in the top of the fourth inning, allowed just one single the rest of the way. He retired the last eight Bats he faced to secure the victory.
It didn't take long for the Pigs to get on the board. Kyle Hudson led off the game with a walk and then scored on a double to right field by Kevin Frandsen. Tomko would issue two more walks in the inning, but a huge 5-4-3 double play would allow him to get out of the inning without further damage.
The Pigs added another run in the bottom of the eighth off of reliever Wirfin Obispo. Hudson singled to lead off the inning and then moved to second as Obispo threw the ball into the stands on a pick off attempt. After moving to third on a fly out to right, Hudson scored on a close play at the plate as first baseman Neftali Soto got the force at first and then attempted to cut off the insurance run at home.
Two runs would be more than enough for Bush and the Pigs as the Bats struggled to rally offensively the entire game. Three of the Bats' five hits were doubles and their biggest threat came in the second inning when Danny Dorn led off the inning with a two-base hit. But, he would not move from second as Bush struck out Puckett and then retired Felix Perez and Corky Miller to end the inning. Dorn's double was his 84th in his Louisville career, which is tied with Corky Miller for third all-time.
Tomko (0-5, 3.18) has yet to record a win in nine starts this season despite his stellar numbers. He allowed just four hits and one run, while walking six and striking out four in seven innings of work. In Tomko's nine starts, the Bats have combined to score a total of 20 runs.
Puckett was the only Bat with two hits on the day as he went 2-for-3 with a single and a double, moving his batting average to .353 since being promoted from Double-A Pensacola.
The Bats get Wednesday off before traveling to Indianapolis to take on the Indians at 7:05 on Thursday night. LHP Jeff Francis (2-5, 4.45) will get the start for Louisville and be opposed by LHP Rudy Owens (2-2, 2.50). Louisville returns home on Saturday to face the Indians and begin a ten-game homestand.