From the Louisville Bats:
LOUISVILLE, KY: The Louisville Bats (5-3) hadn’t scored a run in 14 innings, but when they finally did in the eighth inning of Wednesday night’s game against the Pawtucket Red Sox (2-6), it was all they needed to take a 1-0 win.
The Bats had mustered only three hits off Sox starting RHP Jeremi Gonzalez through seven innings of scoreless baseball. They finally broke through in the eighth however off LHP Chris Narveson (0-1). Luis Lopez led off the inning with a walk and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by A.J. Zapp. Dane Sardinha followed with a one-out single to right field. Lopez was given the “hold up†sign at third base by Bats‚ Manager Rick Sweet, but right fielder Justin Sherrod bobbled the ball, allowing Lopez to score for the decisive run.
Pawtucket threatened to take the lead in the seventh inning when designated hitter Jeff Bailey led off with a double down the third base line and reached third on a fielder’s choice by Luis Figueroa. With one out, first baseman Tim Hummel hit a slow bouncer to shortstop Luis Lopez who fired a one-hopper home to gun down Bailey and preserve a scoreless game.
Louisville starting RHP Elizardo Ramirez was splendid in seven innings of work. He gave up only four hits, struck out five and walked none. RHP Ricky Stone (1-1) surrendered no hits and no walks in his two scoreless innings to pick up the win.
Gonzalez also went seven innings for Pawtucket, giving up only two hits while striking out one batter and walking two. Narveson, who was slated to start game one of this four-game series but came down with flu-like symptoms, took the loss for the Sox. He gave up one run on one hit ˜ the game winner ˜ in his one inning of pitching.
The time of tonight’s game was 2:02. The attendance was 8,225. Louisville will hit the road, starting tomorrow, for a four-game series at defending IL South Division champion Richmond. They will begin a four-game series on April 19, at Norfolk. The Bats return home on Saturday, April 23, for a 4:15 game against the Columbus Clippers on Thunder Over Louisville Day.
The starting probables for tomorrow’s game is RHP Steve Kelly (0-0, 1.80) for Louisville and LHP Andy Van Hekken (0-1, 13.50) for Richmond.