Bats Rain on Tides, Win 6-4
The Bats began the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Norris Hopper walked to lead off the game, and subsequently stole second base. The next two batters were retired, and Wes Bankston continued his hot-hitting by singling in Hopper, giving the Bats a 1-0 lead.
The Bats extended their lead in the bottom of the third as Drew Stubbs was able to work a two-out walk. He was followed by Drew Sutton, who ripped a 421-foot home run, his fourth of the season, pushing the lead to 3-0.
The Tides got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Justin Christian led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Bats starter, Ramon Ramirez. Former Bat, Jolbert Cabrera, hit a sacrifice fly to right field, slimming the lead to 3-1.
The Tides were able to take advantage of the Bats' defensive mistakes in the top of the fifth. Robby Hammock led off the inning by reaching on a throwing error by Bats third baseman, Drew Sutton. The next batter, Brandon Pinckney, also reached on an error, this time of the fielding variety by shortstop Luis Bolivar. Carlos Rojas knocked in Hammock via a sacrifice fly, making it a 3-2 game. Ramirez was fortunate to get out of the inning only surrendering one run, as he stranded runners at second and third base.
The Bats answered with a run of their own in their half of the fifth inning on a lead-off homerun by catcher Craig Tatum. Tatum, who originally had the night off, entered the game in the third inning for starting catcher, Wilkin Castillo, who left with irritation in his left eye. Tatum's home run pushed the Bats lead to 4-2.
The Tides kept up the scoring in the top of the sixth. Jeff Fiorentino began the inning with a single and a stolen base. He was able to move up to third base on a throwing error by Tatum with no outs. Ramirez walked the next batter and was taken out of the game. Reliever Jeff Kennard entered and was able to get the first batter he faced to fly out. He got Hammock to ground out, but Fiorentino scored, cutting the lead to 4-3.
The Bats were able to answer again as Kevin Barker led off the sixth with his ninth homerun of the year, making the score 5-3 in favor of Louisville. It was Barker's second homerun in as many games.
The Bats were able to add-on to the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Tatum led off the inning with a single. Stubbs followed him and doubled in Tatum, increasing the lead to 6-3. It was the third consecutive inning in which the lead-off man had scored.
The Tides refused to go away. Fiorentino walked to lead off the top of the eighth. Steve Torrealba doubled in the right-centerfield gap, scoring Fiorentino, trimming the lead to 6-4. Pedro Viola came in to relieve Kennard, and was able to get out of the inning without giving up another run. He remained in the game to pitch a perfect ninth inning, picking up his fourth save of the season.
Ramirez (2-4, 4.52) picked up the win for the Bats going five innings plus two batters, surrendering six hits, three runs (one earned), one walk, and struck out two batters.
Troy Patton started for the Tides making his debut for the team. Patton (0-1, 7.50) took the loss tossing six innings, giving up seven hits, five runs, two walks, and struck out two.
Stubbs finished two-for-three on the evening, en route to increasing his hitting streak to eight games. He also picked up an RBI and stole his league-leading 24th base.
The Bats and Tides will hook up again tomorrow morning in game three of this four-game series. Tomorrow's game is a business person special and first pitch is set for 11:45 A.M. $1 Hot Dogs will be available during the entire game. RHP Homer Bailey (6-5, 3.13) will take the ball for the Bats, and the Tides will counter with highly-touted prospect RHP Jake Arrieta (0-1, 1.50).