There’s lots to get caught up on with the Louisville Bats, so let’s not waste any time and get right into YOUR Bats Sunday Notebook:
Rehabbing Reds
Injured Cincinnati Reds Bill Bray and Scott Rolen were in town over the past few days on rehab assignments. Left hander Bray pitched a perfect inning Thursday and gave up two runs in 1-2/3 innings Friday night. Rolen went 2-for-6 in two combined games Friday and Saturday, sending himself off with a three-run home run in his final at bat Saturday in the Bats’ 11-5 win. Both players are scheduled to join the Reds Sunday.
Janish returns
Paul Janish finally returned to the field Thursday after being on the Bats’ disabled list since April 30. Janish’s return hasn’t gone as planned, though. Janish is just 1-for-10 since returning and his season batting average has dropped to .285. Kind of rough for a guy who had six multi-hit games in the month of April alone.
Joseph impressive
Left hander Donnie Joseph has done nothing but impress since being promoted from Pensacola to Louisville on June 9. His Triple-A debut came June 10 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in which he pitched two perfect innings, striking out two is picking up the save. Joseph pitched a scoreless inning Thursday. Overall this season, in 28 games, Joseph is 4-2 with a 0.81 ERA and 14 saves. Joseph holds a 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio.
Navarro continues raking
Since coming back from an injury, Dioner Navarro has been red hot. Although he didn’t have a hit Saturday, Navarro had a seven game hitting streak going into the game. During that streak, Navarro had five multi-hit games. Overall this season, Navarro is hitting .330/.403/.431 with two home runs and 15 RBIs. He has 13 multi-hit games this season.
Saturday night’s all right (for scoring)
Saturday night the Bats set a season-high for runs scored, cruising past the Rochester Red Wings 11-5. Louisville hammered three home runs off former Bats pitcher Matt Maloney and mustered out 13 total hits—one shy of their season high 14. The Bats also went 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position Saturday; they were hitting .210 in such situations going into the game.
The Road Ahead
The Bats wrap up their season series with Rochester Sunday. They then welcome Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to Louisville Slugger Field four a four game series before hitting the road again.