Offensive outbursts lead Bats past IronPigs, 8-5

LOUISVILLE, KY - The Louisville Bats (20-33) are now riding a season-high four-game winning streak with the help of Friday's 8-5 victory over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (36-18) at Louisville Slugger Field.
The Bats sent right-hander Domingo Tapia (0-0, 4.50 ERA) to the mound for the first start of his Triple-A career. Tapia ended the night after four innings pitched, five hits and two earned runs allowed, and two strikeouts.
The Bats commanded an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning after momentum was created with the help of a leadoff single from Rob Brantly. Later in the inning, Dilson Herrera singled through the left side to extend his hitting streak to six games, while also bringing in Brantly for the first run of the day.
In the next inning, Louisville collected three consecutive one-out hits, and these runners came home on a groundout by Phillip Ervin and a two-RBI single from Sebastian Elizalde.
Lehigh Valley cut into the 4-0 disadvantage in the top of the fourth inning after a three-run home run by center fielder Nick Williams. The IronPigs then trailed 4-3 until the bottom of the fifth, when the Bats extended their lead.
Louisville's fifth inning opened with a single from Jesse Winker, and was accompanied by an error allowing Ervin to reach base, and singles from Elizalde, Herrera, and Zach Vincej. Three runs were scored in the inning, bringing the Bats to a 7-3 edge.
With two outs in the seventh inning, Herrera singled to right field, and soon after, he reached third on a stolen base and a throwing error. Vincej then approached the plate and singled to left, bringing home Herrera for the eighth and final Louisville run of the night.
Barrett Astin pitched three innings in relief, and two runs were charged to him in an eighth inning rally by the IronPigs. The hurler's final line featured two hits, three walks, and four strikeouts.
The top of the ninth inning rendered Lehigh Valley scoreless as Kevin Shackelford reclaimed the mound and stifled the IronPig offense in 1-2-3 fashion.  
The Louisville Bats will take on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs again for game two tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field. Set to pitch for the Bats is left-hander Cody Reed (1-3, 4.01), and Mark Appel (3-2, 6.75 ERA) will start for the IronPigs.