The Louisville Bats completed their sweep of host Syracuse in dramatic, and somewhat unusual, fashion.
Louisville plated two runs - on a bases-loaded walk and a bases-loaded hit Batsman - in the top of the ninth to pull out a 4-2 triumph over the Chiefs on Wednesday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium.
It was the third straight win and 15th out of the last 20 games for Louisville (28-25), which hasn't swept a series at Syracuse since 1989 (a Taylor Swift coincidence?).
The game was scoreless until the top of the third inning when Louisville reeled off three straight singles. The final one, by Steve Selsky, scored Jermaine Curtis, who had the first single.
The Chiefs (17-36) answered by tallying two runs in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly and an RBI-double off Bats starter Josh Smith.
Louisville tied the score in the top of the fourth when Ryan LaMarre led off with a single, moved to second when Yorman Rodriguez walked then scored on Josh Satin’s ground out.
It remained 2-all until the top of the ninth when Syracuse reliever Mitch Lively walked Rodriguez, gave up a double to Satin then hit Chris Dominguez to load the bases with one out. Lively then walked Jose Constanza to score Rodriguez with the winning run. Lively subsequently left the game, but not of his own volition. He was ejected by home plate umpire Jansen Visconti for, not surprisingly, his calls of balls and strikes.
New pitcher Rich Hill then hit Curtis to score the game’s final run.
Louisville reliever Drew Hayes sat Syracuse down in order in the bottom of the ninth to improve to 3-1 on the season. The right-hander walked one and struck out two in two innings.
Satin, who was activated off the disabled list Tuesday, led Louisville with three hits while Suarez tallied two.
The Bats return home to Louisville Slugger Field for a four-game series against Buffalo beginning at 7:05 p.m. Thursday night. Louisville lefty David Holmberg (3-3 4.73 earned run average) is scheduled to face Bisons right-hander Scott Copeland (3-1, 2.21 ERA).
DE JESUS TO THE SHOW: Bats infielder Ivan De Jesus was sent to Philadelphia to be added to the Cincinnati Reds’ roster for their Wednesday night game against the Phillies. So far this season De Jesus (pictured above) is hitting .303 and leads Louisville with 56 hits. He has made 17 starts at first base, one at second, 30 at third and one at shortstop.
Photo courtesy Louisville Bats Facebook Page
