The weekly poop on the Louisville Bats.
Where They Stand: The Bats are 41-43 and in third-place in the International League West, nine games behind Indianapolis (50-34), which has the best record in the IL.
The Week That Was: The Bats went 3-4, losing two of three to visiting Syracuse (the team with the worst record in the IL), splitting two games against visiting Columbus and splitting the first two games of a series at Indy.
Who’s Hot: Outfielder Brennan Boesch hit .500 (12 for 24), as did infielder Jermaine Curtis (6 for 12), albeit in half as many at-bats. Boesch also finished the week with two home runs, two runs batted in and four runs scored. Meanwhile infielder Irving Falu, who was named to the IL All-Star team last week, hit .321 while driving in three runs and scoring twice. Right-handed pitcher Robert Stephenson, the top-ranked prospect in the Cincinnati Reds' organization, picked up the victory in his debut this past Friday night against Columbus. Stephenson gave up two earned runs on four hits while walking three and striking out six in five innings. Starting pitcher Dylan Axelrod (six solid innings in Saturday's win over Indy) and reliever Sam LeCure (a win in two appearances) also had good weeks.
Who’s Not Hot: Infielder Kristopher Negron hit just .115 (3 for 26), while fellow infielder Hernan Iribarren and outfielder Yorman Rodriguez (pictured above) hit .200 (both 4 for 20). Pitcher Donovan Hand gave up six earned runs on seven hits while striking out one in four innings of relief in the first game against Columbus, which started Thursday night but was completed Friday due to rain.
Comings & goings: Coming - Right-handed pitcher Raisel Iglesias (strained left oblique) and left-handed pitcher Tony Cingrani (strained left shoulder) were sent down by the Reds for rehab assignments while infielder/outfielder Chris Dominguez was optioned by Cincinnati and Stephenson was transferred from Double-A Pensacola. Going - Outfielder Jose Constanza was placed on the temporarily inactive list (birth of child) while right-handed pitcher Nick Christiani was transferred to Pensacola. Disabled list - Infielder Josciel Veras was placed on the seven-day DL.
The Week Ahead: The Bats continue a split six-game series against Indy with one more game in the Circle City before returning to Louisville Slugger Field for a trio of games against the Indians. Louisville will head to division-rival Toledo (37-46) for a four-game set beginning Friday.
Photo courtesy of the Louisville Bats' Facebook Page
