Bats Power Past Chiefs, Win 5-3

Syracuse, NY- The Louisville Bats took the win in game three of the four-game series against the Syracuse Chiefs tonight at Alliance Bank Stadium 5-3. The Bats were able to get on the board in the second. Kevin Barker started the inning off with a single to center field. Wes Bankston followed with a ground out to the Chiefs' pitcher, advancing Barker to second. Barker made it to third with a Drew Sutton singled to left field, putting in scoring position. Then Chris Valaika hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Barker. The Bats got another run in the third. Drew Stubbs blasted a homer to right field. It is his third home run of the season. The Chiefs scored in the fourth. Pete Orr singled on a bunt to Bankston. While Elijah Dukes is up to bat, Orr steals second. Mike Morse followed with a s single to center field scoring Orr. Morse then was advanced to second on a Stubbs fielding error. Kory Casto grounded out to Sutton getting Morse to third. Morse then scored on a Seth Bynum single. The Chiefs tied it up 2-2. The Bats got two in the sixth. Bankston singled on a line to right field. Drew Sutton followed with a bunt single, getting Bankston to second. Then Chris Valaika powered one to right field, sending Sutton to third and scoring Bankston. Pitcher Justin Lehr singled to shortstop, scoring Sutton. The Bats regained the lead. The Bats got their last run of the night in the seventh. Chris Heisey began the seventh with a single to left field. Darnell McDonald followed with a single to right field advancing Heisey to second. Heisey was then scored on a Sutton single to left field. The Chiefs could only muster one more run in the seventh. Kory Casto started off with a single to left field. Ian Desmond advances Casto to second on a single to left field. Then Corey Patterson came in to pinch hit for pitcher Horacio Ramirez. Patterson grounded out and scored Casto. The Bats take the win 5-3. Justin Lehr (13-3, 3.31) took his 13th win for the Bats. He held the Chiefs to six hits, three runs, two earned and struck out four. Jeff Kennard, Pedro Viola and Robert Manuel came in to preserve the win. Manuel picked up his tenth save of the season. Horacio Ramirez(2-3, 5.27) took the loss for Syracuse. He went seven innings, gave up twelve hits, five runs, walked three and struck out two. The Bats and Cheifs will resume play again tomorrow for game four at 7:00 p.m. LHP Matt Maloney (7-6, 2.51) is scheduled to start for the Bats and RHP Shairon Martis will start for Syracuse.