Unlikely Power Heroics Propel Bats Past Stripers 4-2

After things seemed bleak at the start, the Louisville Bats' offense got help from some unexpected power plays and surged to a comeback 4-2 win over the Gwinnett Stripers at Gwinnett Field Saturday night.

After a scoreless first, Gwinnett got on the board first with a solo shot off Bats starter Brandon Leibrandt (W, 3-3) in the bottom of the second.

The Stripers scored again just one inning later, when an RBI single by Brett Wisely extended the lead to 2-0. The Bats' offense answered back, with Hector Rodriguez hitting his 17th homer of the year, and cut the lead in half for Louisville, 2-1, going into the fifth inning. It also marks Rodriguez's seventh home run in the month of June, which is tied for second in the International League in that time span.

The game came to a standstill after that moment, where it seemed like nobody could get a hit to fall, although both teams made good contact. After Gwinnett starter Austin Gomber was pulled after going 6.0 innings, giving up three hits and only one run on the homer by Rodriguez, the Bats were able to break through that rut first.

Ivan Johnson singled to center field in the seventh, then Francisco Urbaez notched his first homer of the year and put the Bats in front for the first time in the game, 3-2.

Leibrandt was pulled in the home half of the seventh, where he went a very solid 6.0 innings, allowing the two Stripers runs on five hits, while striking out six. Leibrandt's outing gave him his fifth quality start of the season, which is tied for second among IL pitchers. Julian Garcia came in for the Bats starter and worked a quick seventh to hold onto the lead.

To add some extra insurance, Garrett Hampson went yard to open the eighth and extended the lead for Louisville to 4-2. It was his third homer of the season, and the 409-foot blast proved vital in the Bats' victory.

Trevor Kuncl (SV, 3) came in for the ninth to close things out for Louisville, and although the Stripers would threaten with multiple baserunners in late stages of the game, the Bats came away with a comeback 4-2 win. Elieser Hernandez (L, 1-4) was handed the loss after conceding the two key homers that put Louisville out front in the game. The Bats had three homers on the day, two from guys in single digits on the year in that category, but the timing could not have been better for this Louisville club.

The Bats (39-33) close the series out with the Stripers (37-36) on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. EST at Gwinnett Field. Nick Curran will be on the call on Sports Talk 790.