By Josh Cook
Mark Serrano's first Triple-A start wasn't one he'll probably tell his grandkids about.
The right-hander was rocked for seven runs in his first outing with the Louisville Bats on Tuesday night as the Indianapolis Indians beat the Bats 9-7 in front of 8,341 at Louisville Slugger Field.
The win by Indianapolis (45-42) ended its eight-game losing streak, as well as Louisville's season-high tying five-game win streak. But the Bats (41-46) didn't give in easily, they scored three runs in the last two innings and had the tying run at the plate when the game ended.
The Bats had room on their roster for Serrano, who had a 3-6 record in 14 starts with Double-A Lynchburg, after left-hander Matt Maloney was recalled by the parent Cincinnati Reds. Maloney started against the New York Mets on Tuesday and lost 3-0 to Johan Santana, who homered against his adversary.
Serrano, who was a sixth round selection of the Reds in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, also came to Louisville with a 4.42 earned-run average having allowing 37 earned runs in 75 1/3 innings. During that time he also struck out 72.
He walked two Indians in the top of the first, but got some help from his defense with a double play. Serrano, though, didn't do himself any favors in the second inning against the Indians. He gave up a leadoff double to Brandon Moss, followed by a bunt single to Alex Presley before balking in Moss. Erik Kratz followed with a single before Presley scored on Argenis Diaz's ground out to Serrano.
But the Bats answered in the bottom of the inning. Juan Francisco homered to right field with one out and Daniel Dorn followed with a double. Dorn took third on an errant pickoff attempt by Kratz, Indy's catcher, then scored on Chris Valaika's sacrifice fly.
The Indians responded with two more runs in the third. Jeff Clement singled with two outs, then Moss homered to right field.
Louisville scored once in the bottom of the inning when Ryan Hanigan doubled with two outs, then scored on Yonder Alonso's single off Indians starter Jeremy Powell (5-7).
Francisco tied the game when he led off the bottom of the fourth with his second homer of the game, and his eighth of the season.
But things fell apart for Serrano in the fifth. With one out Akinori Iwamura hit his first home run of the season, then Serrano walked Jim Negrych. That prompted a visit to the pitcher's mound, but Serrano stayed in. Clement, the next batter, hit a two-run home run to center field.
Serrano (0-1) allowed seven earned runs on seven hits, while walking three and striking out three to in five innings (which gave him a 12.60 ERA).
The Indians added a pair of runs in the seventh thanks to two Louisville errors.
But the Bats battled back, scoring once in the eighth and twice in the ninth.
In the eight Todd Frazier singled with one out, moved to second when Drew Sutton walked and scored on Valaika's single. In the ninth the Bats hit a pair of solo home runs - by Gary Matthews Jr. and Alonso - off Indy reliever Jean Machi to pull within two. But after Frazier doubled with two out Machi struck out Francisco to end the game.
Matthews, Hanigan, Alonso, Frazier, Francisco and Dorn led Louisville's 13-hit attack with two apiece.
The same two teams meet at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday night at Slugger Field.
