The Louisville Bats got some timely hitting and terrific work from their bullpen Sunday as they beat the Scranton Wilkes/Barre Yankees 5-4. All five of the Bats’ runs came on two out hits and Wirfin Obispo and Donnie Joseph pitched the final four innings without giving up a hit.
Brian Peacock’s RBI single in the sixth was the game winner. It came after the Yankees had scored two runs in the fifth, both with two outs, to tie the game.
The Bats (21-44) jumped out to lead in the very first inning. After Mike Costanzo walked with two outs, Neftali Soto blasted his eighth homer of the year to give the Bats a 2-0 lead.
Joey Gathright’s RBI single in the second made it 3-1 before Soto’s RBI single in the fifth made it 4-2.
That’s when things got interesting. Bats starter Tim Gustafson (1-1) looked like he was cruising along and about to be out of the fifth inning in great shape. Then Russell Branyan homered to cut the lead to 4-3. Following the homer, Doug Bernier singled to right. Bernier would score on Kevin Russo’s single—a ball that Gathright nearly made a diving catch on. Colin Curtis’ double put the go-ahead run 90 feet away, but Gustafson got Gustavo Molina to fly out to end the frame, keeping the score tied.
After Peacock’s go-ahead hit, it was time for the bullpen to go to work. They did not disappoint.
Wifiin Obispo pitched the sixth and seventh innings without giving up a hit, though he did walk two. Opispo was credited with his first hold of the season.
Donnie Joseph replaced Obispo in the eighth. Joseph, making his Triple-A debut, pitched the final two frames perfectly to pick up the save.
It’s the first time the Bats have won two straight games since May 19-20. After losing four straight May 4-6 in which they scored three total runs, the Bats have now won three of four and are averaging just over six runs per game.
The Bats go for their first three game winning streak of the season Monday. Pedro Villarreal (2-2, 3.50 ERA) is set to take the mound for the Bats. He will be opposed by reigning IL Pitcher of the Week Ramon Ortiz (4-3, 3.52 ERA) of the Yankees. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
Photo Credit: Max Sharp
