By Josh Cook
Monday's doubleheader at Columbus was famine and feast for the Louisville Bats.
They were beaten by the International League West-leading Clippers 1-0 in the opener, but then clobbered Columbus 16-2 in the second game. Both contests were seven innings.
In the first game Clippers starter Justin Germano (1-1) limited Louisville to one hit - a second-inning single by Drew Sutton - in a complete-game victory. Germano struck out eight Bats.
Right-hander Chad Reineke (2-4) absorbed the loss for Louisville. He gave up six hits - including a second-inning double by Brian Bixler that was followed by Carlos Santana's RBI-single - and struck out four in 4 2/3 innings.
In the second game the Bats (24-28) pounded out 17 hits to beat Louisville native Jeremy Sowers and the Clippers (33-20). A trio of Chrises - Chris Burke, Chris Denove and Chris Valaika - had three hits apiece for the Bats, as did Michael Griffin. Burke went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and four runs scored. He hit his second homer of the season off of Sowers (1-2) in the second inning. Louisville scored a single run in the first inning, then added three in the second, two in the third, six in the fifth and four in the sixth.
Sowers, a graduate of Ballard High School, gave up five hits and six runs (five earned), while walking three and striking out one in just 2 2/3 innings.
Ben Jukich (2-3) gave up five hits and two earned runs (both in the first inning), while walking two and striking out one over five innings.
The two teams will meet again at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday night at Columbus. Highly-touted pitching prospect Aroldis Chapman (5-2, 3.55 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Bats.
