Big inning downs Bats, 11-4
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A five-run seventh inning propelled the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders past the Louisville Bats by a score of 11-4 on Tuesday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
Louisville took a 4-3 lead into the inning and retired the first batter, Scott Sizemore, via a strikeout. However, six consecutive RailRiders proceeded to reach base as Scranton took a four-run lead. Two of the runs were charged to losing pitcher Pedro Villarreal (1-1, 4.13) and three runs were tacked on to southpaw Ryan Dennick.
An inning later, Scranton blew the game open with three more runs, all coming with two outs. In the first two games of the series, the RailRiders have totaled 26 runs scored on 40 hits. First baseman Kyle Roller is 6-for-9 from the plate with four runs, three extra-base hits and three runs batted in.
Louisville right-hander Josh Smith earned the start and was in line to receive his International League leading seventh win of the season upon exiting the game. However, the Bats bullpen failed to maintain the lead.
After surrendering three runs in the top of the first inning, Smith settled down to pitch the next five innings unscathed. He worked around a leadoff double in both the third and fourth innings and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth by fanning center fielder Ramon Flores on his 111th pitch of the game.
Opposite Smith, right-hander Bruce Billings made the start for the RailRiders and allowed four earned runs on four hits with two walks in two and two-thirds innings pitched. Billings was added to Scranton's roster from Double-A Staten Island earlier today. Right-hander Jose Ramirez (2-0, 1.17) earned the win after entering the game with two outs in the sixth.
Louisville utility-man Kristopher Negron continued to play well during the month of May and extended his on-base streak to 18 games. He also appeared in an unusual role as he took the mound to pitch in the ninth inning. It was his first pitching appearance of his nine-year professional career.
Additionally, infielder Neftali Soto went 2-for-5 from the plate and has now recorded multi-hit games in each of his three appearances with the Bats this season.
With the RailRiders holding a 2-0 series lead, the Bats will need to take the next two games to split the four-game set. The two teams will play again tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Tim Crabbe (2-5, 5.26) will toe the rubber for Louisville and face Scranton right-hander Brian Gordon (2-5, 4.94).