Maybe all the Louisville Bats needed was to get away from home.
After losing four of their first six games at Louisville Slugger Field the Bats won their first road contest of the season, outlasting host Indianapolis 2-1 Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field.
Louisville starter Dylan Axelrod threw seven strong innings before a pair of relievers helped keep the Bats’ lead, which came about thanks to single runs in the fourth and sixth.
Axelrod was outstanding. The 6-foot, 185-pound right-hander gave up just two hits - to Indy’s first two batters of the game - and one earned run (in the bottom of the first) while walking one and striking out four on his way to the victory.
Meanwhile Tucker Barnhart and Irving Falu provided Axelrod with all the run support he would need with their RBIs.
Axelrod, who got a no-decision in Louisville’s second game of the season despite pitching well enough to win, allowed back-to-back singles to Alen Hanson and Chris Stewart to begin the bottom of the first. Hanson moved to third when Jose Tabata hit into a fielder’s choice (Stewart was out at second) before scoring on Hunter Morris’ sac fly to right field.
After that Axelrod was unhittable as he put the Indians on lockdown and outdueled Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Adrian Sampson (0-2). He retired 18 of the final 19 batters he faced. The only blemish was a walk to start the bottom of the sixth.
The Bats (3-4), coming off their doubleheader split with Columbus on Tuesday, tied the game in the top of the fourth after Yorman Rodriguez doubled to left field with two outs, then scored on Barnhart’s single to center.
Two innings later Louisville took the lead it wouldn’t relinquish. Dan Johnson was issued a leadoff walk before Sampson allowed a single to Chris Dominguez. Rodriguez then bunted into a fielder’s choice (Johnson was out at third) before Deolis Guerra was brought in to relieve Sampson.
Barnhart greeted the new pitcher with a single through the left side to load the bases. Falu then brought in Dominguez with the winning run on a sacrifice fly to right field.
Donovan Hand and Nathan Adcock were solid in relief of Axelrod. Hand gave up one hit and walked one in the bottom of the eighth before Adcock retired Indy in order in the bottom of the ninth. Adcock ended the game with a strikeout of Brent Morel to earn his second save.
Barnhart and Ivan De Jesus accounted for half of Louisville’s eight hits with two apiece. De Jesus’ singles improved his early-season batting average to .474.
The Bats and Indians (3-4) will continue their split five-game series at 7:05 p.m. Thursday night. Louisville right-hander Michael Lorenzen (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will face fellow righty Chris Volstad (1-0, 0.00) on the mound.
MOVES: The contract of Bats right-handed pitcher Josh Smith was purchased by the parent Cincinnati Reds on Monday. Meanwhile right-handed pitcher Nick Christiani was transferred to Louisville from Rookie League affiliate Billings (Mont.) and left-handed pitcher Ryan Dennick was designated for assignment.
