Led by a superb pitching performance by Raisel Iglesias, the Louisville Bats made it two in a row over the Buffalo Bisons.
Iglesias went seven strong innings to pick up his first professional victory and lead Louisville to a 5-2 victory over the host Bisons on Saturday afternoon at Coca-Cola Field in New York.
Iglesias, a 25-year-old right-hander from Cuba who signed with the Cincinnati Reds this past June, allowed only two earned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out two to notch a win in his fourth start (one with the Reds, three with the Bats) of the season.
The victory was the third in a row for Louisville (10-13) and assured the Bats of only their second series win at Buffalo since they joined the International League in 1998. The three-game set wraps up Sunday afternoon.
In addition to getting a great relief effort from Sam LeCure, who picked up his first save of the season, Iglesias also got plenty of help from the Bats’ batters. Jermaine Curtis, who hit eighth in the lineup, went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Louisville’s 11-hit attack as the bottom of the order came up big for the Bats. Kyle Skipworth and Irving Falu, Louisville’s Nos. 7 and 9 hitters respectively, added two hits apiece.
The Bats’ offense got going early as they tallied three runs in the second inning before adding single runs in the fourth and ninth frames.
Steve Selsky led off the second with a triple to right field, then scored when Yorman Rodriguez followed with a double to left field. The next batter, Chris Dominguez, launched a two-run homer to left-centerfield to make it 3-0 Bats.
Louisville added another run in the fourth when Skipworth doubled with one out, then scored on Curtis’ single to left field.
The Bisons (14-9) cut Louisville’s lead in half when they plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Iglesias, though, sat Buffalo down 1-2-3 in the seventh before LeCure secured the victory. The veteran right-hander retired the Bisons in order in the eighth and ninth innings to pick up his first save of the season.
The two teams will close out their three-game series Sunday. Louisville left-hander David Holmberg (0-3, 10.59 earned-run average) will once again try to get off the schnide against Buffalo southpaw Randy Wolf (3-0, 1.57 ERA). First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m.
Photo courtesy Louisville Bats Facebook Page
