The Louisville Bats only mustered a run on five hits Friday as they fell to the Indianapolis Indians 4-1. The Bats fell to a season low 19 games under the .500 mark at 15-34. They’ve now lost four games in a row.
The Bats were behind the eight ball early as Indianapolis got a run in the first inning on a double from Alex Presley. Presley finished the game 3-for-4 and a home run short of the cycle.
The Bats came back to tie the game on an RBI sac fly from Willie Harris in the third. The Bats couldn’t convert much else as they went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position in the game and left six men in scoring position.
Louisville, after scoring 22 runs in the first 23 innings of their series against Lehigh Valley, have scored just 2 runs in their last 41 innings. That stretch includes an 0-for-35 streak with runners in scoring position.
The Indians took the lead for good in the fifth after an RBI sacrifice fly from Starling Marte scored Alex Presley. RBI singles from Jeff Larish and Brian Friday in the sixth made it 4-1.
Bats starter Pedro Villarreal was charged with all four Indy runs in his 5-1/3 innings of work. Only three of those runs were earned.
Louisville fell to 5-27 when their opponents strike first. They were also outhit for the 30th time this season. The Bats are 5-25 in such contests.
The Bats return home for the start of a ten game homestand Saturday night. They will face the Indians Saturday and Sunday then have four series against the Syracuse Chiefs and Durham Bulls before hitting the road again. Saturday, the Bats are scheduled to send Sean Gallagher (3-3, 5.48 ERA) to the mound. Indianapolis has not announced a starter as of yet. First pitch Saturday is set for 6:05.
