Bats Squander Late Lead In 5-4 Loss To Indians

The Louisville Bats let a ninth-inning advantage slip away, falling 5-4 in their series opener with the Indianapolis Indians on Tuesday evening at Louisville Slugger Field.

Johnathan Lavallee made the spot start for the Bats, his first start in 30 minor league appearances this season. Indianapolis sent right-hander Noah Davis to the mound, opposing a Bats offense that has scored the fourth most runs at home in the International League.

Each team moved a runner into scoring position in the first inning. Ronny Simon walked and stole second for the Indians, while Reds' rehabbing infielder Matt McLain singled and advanced on a wild pitch. Both runners were quickly stranded, leading to a scoreless opening frame.

Lavallee worked another scoreless inning in the second, despite permitting a leadoff walk. Connor Phillips replaced him in the third, working a clean initial inning in relief.

Dominic Pitelli provided a spark for a stagnant Bats offense with a double in the bottom of the third. After a deep flyout to right field by Carlos Jorge advanced the runner, McLain stepped to the plate with a chance to drive in the game’s first run. He battled through an eight-pitch at-bat to draw the walk, before Hector Rodriguez flew out to center field to conclude the inning.

Back-to-back walks by Phillips led to an Indians run in the fourth, driven in on a double from Jack Brannigan. Consecutive strikeouts allowed Phillips to work out of any further damage, with Indianapolis leading 1-0.

The Bats came alive in the fifth, swinging the advantage in their favor to the tune of four runs. Austin Hendrick got the action started with an infield single in front of the pitcher’s mound. P.J. Higgins walked before a groundout by Pitelli brought up the top of the Louisville batting order.

With the Indians infield playing in, Jorge singled on a seeing-eye pop-up to shallow right field, scoring a run to tie the game momentarily. Louisville took the lead when a pickoff attempt of first base led to a throwing error by Indianapolis’ catcher, the ball leaking into the right field corner and bringing two runs across to score. Rodriguez added the inning’s final tally on his 25th homer of the season, a blast off the roof of the Humana Cabana, giving the Bats a 4-1 lead.

The Indians got a run back in the following inning off Luis Mey, capitalizing on a walk that led to Simon’s second stolen base of the game and an RBI single by Duce Gourson.

Zach Maxwell pitched two strong innings out of the bullpen, holding the 4-2 Bats lead into the bottom of the eighth, where they threatened to add insurance runs but failed to do so, despite singles by Francisco Urbaez and Higgins.

Hunter Parks (L, 2-2) entered with a save opportunity, but struggled to find the strike zone, walking the first two batters he saw and placing the game’s tying run on base with nobody out. A ground out to shortstop gave the Bats a much-needed double play before Termarr Johnson singled home a run to narrow the gap at 4-3.

A strike away from ending the game, Parks walked his third batter of the inning, ending his night an out shy of the save. Trevor Kuncl entered in relief with the tying and go-ahead runs on base. A wild pitch advanced the Indians baserunners, and an 11th walk from Bats pitching loaded the bases.

Down to their final strike once more, Enmanuel Valdez delivered the Indians a clutch single to right field that scored a decisive two runs, despite the inning’s final out being recorded at third base.

Suddenly trailing 5-4, Louisville’s offense attempted to rally. Jorge drew a leadoff walk and stole third after Rodriguez reached on a hit-by-pitch. The rally fell short after consecutive strikeouts from Michael Toglia and Michael Chavis.

Louisville’s offense collected 11 hits, but it was not enough to combat the slew of walks handed out by its pitching staff. Jorge and McLain each went 2-for-4, and Rodriguez provided the night’s lone longball.

The Bats (48-53, 9-19 2nd half) look to turn things around on Wednesday evening against the Indianapolis Indians (49-54). First pitch from Louisville Slugger Field is set for 6:35 p.m. Nick Curran and Jim Kelch will be on the call for Sports Talk 790AM