Louisville Bats Notes: May 13

GRAND FINALE BEFORE THE ROAD TRIP: The Louisville Bats and Toledo Mud Hens meet in the rubber match of a three-game series in what will be the final game of a seven-game homestand for Louisville. The Bats will not only try to win the series today, but also win the home­stand, as they are currently 3-3 heading into Sunday afternoon's tilt with the first-place Mud Hens.

AGAINST TOLEDO: Last season, the Bats went just 6-16 against the Mud Hens, 3-9 at home and 3-7 on the road. It marked the second year in a row that Louisville won just 6 games against the Hens, going 6-19 in 2016. The last time LOU had a winning record against Toledo was 2013, when the Bats went 11-10 in the season series. Since the beginning of the 2014 season, Louisville is 31-64 (.326 winning percentage) against Toledo, including this season.
FINNEGAN JOINS LOUISVILLE: The Cincinnati Reds optioned to Class AAA Louisville left-handed pitcher Brandon Finnegan . The southpaw started the fourth game of the 2018 season for the Bats in a rehab start, going 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, HR, 5 BB, 2 K on 98 pitches (53 strikes) in an April 9 home start vs. the Columbus Clippers. Finnegan has made 10 career starts for Louisville, eight in 2015, and one rehab start in both 2017 and '18. In his Bats career, he's 0-3 with a 6.25 ERA (28er/40.1ip) with 24 walks and 37 strikeouts.
GOEDDEL RELEASED: The Reds announced in a corresponding move that outfielder Tyler Goeddel was released. In 27 games with Louisville this season, he batted .229 (19-for-83) with 5 doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI, 11 walks, 21 strikeouts and one stolen base with a .676 OPS. He reached base a season-high 4 times last night, going 2-for-3 with a walk and hit by pitch. Goeddel occupied the leadoff spot for the Bats in 11 games this year, with the team going 5-6 in those games.
HOST THE MOST: The Bats have played more home games than any other team in the International League with 21 games played at Louisville Slugger Field so far in 2018. The Durham Bulls, with whom the Bats start a three-game road series with on Tuesday, May 15, have played the second-most home games with 20.
MOST HITS IN A LOSS: The Bats registered 13 hits as a team last night, with all 9 in the starting lineup recording at least one hit, the first time that's happened this season. The 13 hits were the most the Bats have had in a loss since July 17, 2017, when LOU out-hit Syracuse at Louisville Slugger Field 16-14, but lost the game by an 11-8 score.
TROMP MAKES BATS SEASON DEBUT: On Saturday the Bats placed catcher Joe Hudson on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to May 10 with a right hip flexor strain. In a corresponding move, LOU added catcher Chad Tromp, who's appeared in 25 games with Class AA Pensacola this season, batting .247 (21-for-85) with 10 RBI. Tromp played in one game for the Bats in 2015, going 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. Last night, Tromp reached twice, going 1-for-3 with a walk in his season debut for Louisville.