Louisville defeats Indianapolis in series opener, 3-1

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville Bats (10-17) defeated the Indianapolis Indians (14-14) by a 3-1 score Monday night at Louisville Slugger Field. The win snaps the Bats' season-long six-game losing streak.

Bats starting pitcher, right-hander Zach Neal (2-0, 4.15) was stellar in his first start in a Louisville uniform tonight, tossing 5.0 innings without allowing a run. He gave up five hits, walked one and struck out three on 57 pitches, 40 strikes.
Louisville's bullpen put together a solid effort as well, with right-handers Evan Mitchell, Tanner Rainey, Domingo Tapia and Kevin Quackenbush combining for 4.0 innings of one-run ball, with Quackenbush notching his first save of 2018.
Tony Cruz, Blake Trahan and Steve Selsky supplied the runs batted in on the night, with Selsky reaching base three times with a 1-for-2, two walk night. The Bats scored two in the bottom of the fifth, gave up one in the top of the sixth, and padded their lead with an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.
Right fielder Gabriel Guerrero, nicknamed "Gabby", made his Louisville debut tonight, going 1-for-4 with a double, run scored and two strikeouts. The nephew of Hall of Fame slugger Vladimir Guerrero was batting .296 for the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos before his promotion today.
The Bats try to make it two in a row tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. with right-hander José López (0-2, 5.26) set to face Indianapolis starting pitcher, right-hander Casey Sadler (0-2, 6.00).