By Josh Cook
Another night, another four-run first inning, another game with a few home runs, another victory.
That's what we've come to expect of the Louisville Bats in recent weeks. And that's what they delivered again Wednesday night.
Louisville won their season-high sixth straight game, beating Charlotte 7-5 in front of 8,140 fans at Louisville Slugger Field.
And the Bats (55-50) did it in similar fashion to what they did in Tuesday night's 19-6 win. They built a 4-0 first-inning lead again, after the Knights rallied, had enough offense to withstand Charlotte's comeback.
Juan Francisco, Yonder Alonso and Wladimir Balentien all homered - as Louisville raised its International League-leading total to 124 - and the Bats got some solid pitching out of their bullpen to win for the ninth time in their last 10 games and the 19th time in their last 24.
The victory also helped Louisville move into the lead for the IL's wildcard playoff berth. The Bats are a half game ahead of Indianapolis (55-51) and a full game in front of Syracuse (54-51) for the final postseason spot.
The Bats got off to another good start. In the bottom of the first Alonso singled with two outs, then moved to third on Todd Frazier's double. Both would score on Francisco's 463-foot, three-run homer to right field. Back-to-back doubles by Balentien and Danny Dorn off Charlotte starter Brandon Hynick made it 4-0.
Jeremy Reed's solo home run in the second pulled the Knights (52-54) within 4-1.
Louisville answered with a single run in the third. Balentien singled with one out, moved to second when Hynick walked Dorn, then scored on Chris Valaika's single.
However the Knights tied the game with three runs in the fifth - thanks to four singles and a walk - and one in the sixth on Reed's second homer of the game.
That was it for Louisville starter Sam LeCure, who got a no-decision after winning his last three starts for the Bats. The right-hander allowed five earned runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out five.
Highly-touted rookie Aroldis Chapman replaced LeCure to start the seventh. He sandwiched a pair of outs around a single before he was lifted in favor of Enerio Del Rosario.
Louisville took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning on Alonso's one-out solo home run off Charlotte reliever Freddy Dolsi (2-5). Balentien added his team-leading 20th of the season in the eighth. That allowed Del Rosario (3-3) to pick up the victory with 1 1/3 innings of hitless relief and Philippe Valiquette to pick up his first Triple-A save in the ninth.
Balentien went 3-for-4 to lead Louisville's 14-hit attack as he improved his batting average in July to .310. Chris Dickerson, Alonso, Dorn and Valaika added two hits apiece. Zack Cozart is the only Bat who went without a hit.
About the only bad news for the Bats was the early-morning arrest of relief pitcher Daniel Ray Herrera on suspicion of misdemeanor public intoxication.
The same two teams meet at 7:05 p.m. Thursday night at LSF. Louisville left-hander Matt Maloney (8-5, 3.13 earned run average) is slated to go against Charlotte righty Carlos Torres (7-7, 3.55). Budweiser "Happy Hour" will take place from 5:30-7 p.m., during which time $1 Bud and Bud Light will be available. Live music will also be provided by The Instruction.
