Louisville falls to Indianapolis in extras, 7-6

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville Bats (23-34) were defeated by the Indianapolis Indians (32-22) by a score of 7-6 at Louisville Slugger Field on Monday night. Rob Refsnyder and Phillip Ervin both recorded multi-hit games, while Alex Blandino went 1-for-2 in his first Major League rehab assignment.

The Bats dropped their fourth game in as many attempts to the visiting Tribe this season. In all four home losses, the Bats out-hit the Indians, but have not yet been able to top them on the scoreboard. The game also was the sixth of the eleven matchups with Indy that was decided by one run so far this season.
The Bats would strike first in the bottom of the first inning. After a single from Brian O'Grady and a stolen base/error on the throw-down to get him to third, Rob Refsnyder would send a line drive rattling into the left-field corner for an RBI double to give Louisville the early 1-0 lead.
Louisville's starter Lucas Sims (3-0, 4.53) looked as sharp as ever through the first three innings, giving up no hits, runs, or walks on only 33 pitches. However, following a 14-pitch battle with Indy's Kevin Kramer that resulted in a base-on-balls and a second walk to put runners on first and second, JB Shuck would send a three-runner homer to right-field, narrowly missing the outstretched glove of Louisville's Refsnyder.
Louisville's offense would stay fairly quiet until the bottom of sixth inning, when the Bats would step into the box trailing by a score of 5-1. With Indians' starter Eduardo Vera (3-4, 6.41) still on the hill, an offensive explosion from the Bats of four runs on three hits, led by a two-run double from Juan Graterol with two outs, would turn the tide and make it a brand-new ballgame. Following the big inning, Christian Colón would give the Bats a 6-5 lead after launching his fourth homerun of the season soaring over the left-field wall.
The Indians would bring the contest back to even in the top of the ninth inning, after an RBI double from Jake Elmore would make the game 6-6 with just one out. However, Bats' reliever Ian Krol (1-2, 4.09) would enter the game and end the threat before Indianapolis could muster another run.
The Indians would lead off the top of the 10th inning with an RBI double to score the runner who started at second base due to the extra inning rule for the International League. However, even with the next batter being hit-by-pitch, to have two men on with no outs, Bats' reliever Sal Romano and his defense would work out of the jam to head to the bottom of the 10th. Unfortunately, one run would prove to be all that was needed as Louisville would be unable to bounce back in the bottom half of the inning.
Louisville will host game two of the three-game series at Louisville Slugger Field against the Pittsburgh Pirates' Triple-A affiliate Indians tomorrow night with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Bats' righty Brad Markey (NR w/LOU) is set to face Indians' RHP Dario Agrazal (3-1, 2.17).