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Jukich Shuts Down Bisons, Bats Win 3-1

July 23, 2009
Louisville, KY- The Louisville Bats took on the Buffalo Bisons for the last game of the four- game series tonight at Louisville Slugger Field. Ben Jukich made his 10th start of the season and had a stellar night, going five perfect innings before giving the Bisons their first hit, as the Bats took the win 3-1.

The Bats got their offense going in the second as Kevin Barker started off the inning by blasting a hit to the right field corner for a double. With two outs, Eric Eymann doubled to left field, scoring Barker and giving the Bats a 1-0 lead.

Jukich dominated Buffalo through the fifth. Bisons' catcher Robinson Cancel led off the sixth with a ground ball to shortstop Chris Valaika. Valaika handled the slow hit grounder but could not get Cancel in time at first, as Jukich gave up his first hit of the night.

The Bats scored again in the sixth. Chris Heisey hit a shot to right field for a double and Darnell McDonald followed with a single to right field, advancing Heisey to third. Kevin Barker then grounded into a double play, but Heisey scored on the play, giving the Bats at 2-0 lead. The Bisons cut the lead in half in the seventh. Javier Castillo singled on a line to center field and scored on a double by Nick Evans, which was hit deep to right-center field.

Following the Bisons' run, the Bats added insurance in the bottom half of the seventh. Corky Miller started off the inning with a single. After reaching on a force out, Luis Bolivar stole second base and eventually scored on a two-out RBI by Drew Stubbs.

Jukich (7-4, 4.35) had an amazing night on the mound and picked up his seventh win of the season. He has allowed only three earned runs in his last three starts while recording a 2-0 record. Tonight he went six-and-two-third strong innings, giving up only three hits, which all came in the sixth and seventh, one run, while walking one and striking out five.

Jeff Kennard and Robert Manuel came on in relief to preserve the 3-1 win. Manuel picked up his ninth save of the season in the process.

Nelson Figueroa(6-5, 2.42) took the loss for the Bisons. He went seven innings, gave up nine hits, three runs and struck out five.

The Bats will resume play tomorrow night in Syracuse at 7:00 pm. The probable pitcher for the Bats is RHP Sam Lecure (7-5, 4.17) and RHP Andrew Kown (2-0, 3.21) for the Chiefs. Tomorrow's start will be the first for LeCure since being added to the disabled list with a right oblique strain on July 17.