By Josh Cook
The Louisville Bats ran out of comebacks Saturday night.
The Bats, who rallied for wins Thursday and Friday nights against Lehigh Valley, couldn't do it a third time Saturday night. Louisville took an early 1-0 lead, but the Iron Pigs scored five unanswered runs to beat the Bats 5-1 in front of 9,745 at Louisville Slugger Field.
And Lehigh Valley (38-56) did it with the long ball, hitting three home runs, to snap a seven-game losing streak to Louisville (46-49).
The Bats got off to a good start. Chris Dickerson led off the bottom of the second inning with a double. He scored two batters later on Chris Valaika's RBI-single off Iron Pigs starter Brandon Duckworth.
Louisville starter Chad Reineke rolled through the first five innings before Lehigh Valley broke through with three runs in the sixth.
Brian Bocock led off with his second home run of the season to left field. Then with one out Chris Duffy reached base on a fielding error by Louisville catcher Wilkin Castillo. Duffy advanced to third on Ozzie Chavez's single, then scored on Domonic Brown's sacrifice fly. Paul Hoover singled Chavez to third, then John Mayberry scored Chavez with another single.
Bobock hit another solo homer with one out in the seventh, then pinch-hitter Joe Savery followed with a round-tripper of his own.
That was enough to chase Reineke, who allowed three earned runs (and two unearned runs) on eight hits while striking out four in 6 1/3 innings as he continued to get little run-support in his starts.
Duckworth (4-3), meanwhile, gave up only one earned run on six Louisville hits while walking three and striking out five in 5 2/3 innings. Four relievers followed with 3 1/3 innings of one-hit relief.
Yonder Alonso and Castillo led Louisville's seven-hit attack with two apiece.
The two teams meet for the finale of the four-game series at 6:05 p.m. Sunday night. Bats right-hander Sam LeCure (5-2, 2.99 earned-run average) is set to take on left-hander Brian Mazone (5-9, 3.87 ERA). Recent Reds returnee LeCure will make his first start since May 22 for the Bats and his first since he was placed on the disabled list following his June 26 appearance against Cleveland. In addition to the Mortenson Inflatable Kids Zone that will be open before the game in the Hall of Fame Pavilion, the first 1,000 kids 12 and under will receive a Bats Back to School Folder courtesy of UPS.
