By Josh Cook
A ninth inning-rally by the Buffalo Bisons brought the Louisville Bats' five-game winning streak to an end Wednesday afternoon.
Buffalo scored three runs in the final frame off Louisville closer Jon Adkins to beat the Bats 8-7 at Louisville Slugger Field. It was the second time in eight days that Adkins has blown a save, and a game, against Buffalo. On May 4 he yielded two runs in the bottom of the ninth as the host Bisons beat the Bats.
But before the ninth yesterday it looked like Louisville (13-20) was going to win its sixth straight game. The Bats had battled back from a 5-2 deficit to take a 7-5 lead.
Buffalo, though, scored single runs in the first and third innings, then scored three in the sixth - on Mike Hessman's 10th homer of the season - off Louisville starter Sam LeCure.
Meanwhile the Bats tallied two runs in the fifth - on Chris Burke's first home run of the season - and added another in the sixth on Luis Terrero's third homer in three days. Louisville then scored a quartet of runs in the seventh - all with two outs - to chase Buffalo starter Dillon Gee.
After Logan Ondrusek pitched 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief Adkins (0-3) came on to start the ninth and promptly gave up four straight hit - a single to Ruben Tejada, a double to Tony Maccani and two more singles to Andy Green and Jason Pride.
Pride's single scored the game-tying run. Jesus Feliciano followed with a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over before Mike Jacobs' sacrifice fly scored Green with the game-winning run.
Elmer Dessens (5-0) gave up a leadoff single to Drew Sutton in the bottom of the ninth before Sutton got picked off trying to steal second. Dessens then struck out Burke and got Zack Cozart to fly out to end the game.
The Bats will try to start a new winning streak at 7:05 p.m. Thursday night when they host Buffalo (18-15) in the final game of an eight-game homestand.
