Add Event My Events Log In

Upcoming Events

    We see you appreciate a good vintage. But there comes a time to try something new. Click here to head over to the redesigned Louisville.com. It's where you'll find all of our latest work. And plenty of the good ol' stuff, too, looking better than ever.

    LouLife

    Print this page

    By Josh Cook

    We've reached the midway point of the June schedule for the Louisville Bats, so let's take a quick look at what they've done in the first half.

    Through the first 15 days, and 14 games, of the month the Bats (30-36) have a 6-8 record and have matched their opponents run for run (both have scored 60).

    So since they have a day off Wednesday it's a perfect time to take a closer look at the players' performances:

    AT THE PLATE

    *Catcher Chris Denove has been on fire since his promotion from Double-A Carolina in late May, hitting .378, including .345 in June.

    *Wilkin Castillo, who has also seen some time at catcher, isn't far behind at .333 in June.

    *Shortstop Chris Valaika continues to make a strong case for the International League All-Star team, hitting .320 in June.

    *Luis Terrero, who has been out since June 6 with a strained left calf, started off the month hitting a sizzling .412 with three homers.

    *Utilityman Michael Griffin is hitting .316, while Drew Sutton is batting .296 and Todd Frazier .265.

    *Third baseman Juan Francisco is hitting .250 (2-for-8) in his two-game return from an appendectomy.

    *Several Bats, however, are struggling from the plate so far this month. They include Yonder Alonso (.226), Zack Cozart (.213), Wladimir Balentien (.180) and Chris Burke (.170).

    ON THE MOUND

    *It's been a rough first half of June for highly-touted pitching prospect Aroldis Chapman. In three starts the lefty is 0-2 with a 6.43 earned-run average, having allowed 10 earned runs in 14 innings pitched. He does have 15 strikeouts, but also has 11 walks. 

    *Travis Wood has been a bright spot. He is 1-1 with 1.71 ERA in three starts and has 21 strikeouts in 21 innings.

    *Bats' closer Jon Adkins has rebounded nicely from a rough May, when he went 0-3 with a 10.61 ERA and only one save in 11 appearances. So far in June he's 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA, but he has four saves in five appearances. His last one tied the Louisville franchise record of 39.

    *Matt Maloney is 2-1 in three starts, but has a 5.06 ERA having allowed 15 runs in 16 innings pitched.

    *Lefty Ben Jukich is 0-0 with a 0.87 ERA in four appearances, including one spot start. He has 10 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.

    *Right-hander Chad Reineke is 0-1 in two starts, after making nine appearances and only three starts in May, with a 3.46 ERA.

    *As for other starters: Matt Klinker was 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA in one start before returning to Carolina, while former Bat Homer Bailey lasted only 4 1/3 innings (with a 10.38 ERA) in a rehab start from the parent Cincinnati Reds. 

    *Meanwhile other than Adkins the Bats' bullpen has been up and down. Some have been solid - Jesus Delgado (0-0, 1.17 ERA in four appearances with nine strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings); Joseph Krebs (0-0, 1.13 ERA with eight innings pitched in six appearances); and Bill Bray (0-0, 0.00 ERA in two innings pitched in two games). Meanwhile some others have struggled - Federico Baez (0-1, 6.75 ERA in three appearances); Carlos Fisher (1-0, 7.20 ERA in four appearances); Jared Burton (1-1, 8.44 ERA in 5 1/3 innings in five games).

    *The Bats' bullpen, though, should get a boost from the return of relief pitcher Enerio Del Rosario, who has returned to Louisville after a brief stint in Cincinnati.

    The Bats return to action at 7:05 p.m. Thursday night against Durham at Louisville Slugger Field to begin an eight-game homestand. Reineke (2-5, 2.90 ERA) is slated to go against Bulls' right-hander Aneury Rodriguez (3-4, 3.68 ERA). Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for Budweiser Game Time Happy Hour. From then until 7 p.m. fans can enjoy $1 Bud and Bud Lights.


     

    Share On:

    Most Read Stories