Hopkins, Barrero Go Back-To-Back as the Bats Fall 9-4 on Wednesday Night
TOLEDO, OH – TJ Hopkins, Jose Barrero and Chuckie Robinson turned in back-to-back-to-back extra-base hits to lead of the eighth inning, but it wasn’t enough as the Louisville Bats (42-39) couldn’t keep up, falling 9-4 to the Toledo MudHens (37-45) on Wednesday night. [Box Score] The MudHens got on the
TOLEDO, OH – TJ Hopkins, Jose Barrero and Chuckie Robinson turned in back-to-back-to-back extra-base hits to lead of the eighth inning, but it wasn’t enough as the Louisville Bats (42-39) couldn’t keep up, falling 9-4 to the Toledo MudHens (37-45) on Wednesday night.
The MudHens got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead.
Louisville finally got on the board in third, scoring a single run. Micheal Siani led the frame off with a sharp line drive double to center. After a ground out moved Siani to third, Matt Reynolds brought Siani home on a sacrifice fly to cut into the MudHens lead, 2-1.
With one out, Noelvi Marte got the Bats going in the fourth, roping a triple to kick off the top of the inning. TJ Hopkins immediately followed with an RBI single to left field, bringing Marte home and tying the game at 2-2.
The Bats threatened to break the game open in the next frame, loading the bases with one out, but ultimately failed to bring in a run as the game stayed locked at 2-2.
Connor Phillips (0-0, 5.40) was solid in his second career Triple-A start, throwing 5.0 innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
Toledo put the game away in the sixth, scoring six runs on six hits and two walks to retake the lead, 8-2.
Louisville started the top of the eighth with a bang as TJ Hopkins and Jose Barrero launched back-to-back home runs. Hopkins’ solo home run was 11th of the season and traveled an estimated 421 ft. over the scoreboard in left field. Chuckie Robinson followed suit as the third man to hit in the inning, sending a deep fly ball to center field that wound up bouncing over the wall for a ground rule double.
The Mud Hens answered with another run of their own in the home half of the eighth before closing out the game in the ninth, topping the Bats 9-4.
Louisville and Toledo will continue the six-game series tomorrow, Thursday, July 6. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm E.T. at Fifth Third Field with right-hander Randy Wynne (2-2, 5.80) getting the ball for the Bats, facing off against fellow righty Brenan Hanifee (2-5, 3.98) for the MudHens.