By Josh Cook
Sam LeCure gave up one hit - a one-out single in the eighth inning - as the Louisville Bats beat International League North-leading Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 5-0 Saturday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
LeCure's complete-game shutout gave Louisville (19-24), which is last in the IL West, its fifth victory in its last six games. In addition to Chad Huffman's line drive single to center field in the eighth, LeCure (5-2) also walked two and struck out five.
He got all the offensive help he would need against the Yankees (26-16) in the Bats' two-run second inning. Drew Sutton singled with one out, then advanced to third on Chris Valaika's double. Sutton scored on Corky Miller's ground out, then Valaika scored on Wilkin Castillo's single.
Louisville added three more runs in the fifth inning thanks to a pair of Scranton errors. The first allowed Castillo to reach base. The second, on Todd Frazier's double, allowed Castillo to score. Michael Griffin followed with another double off Yankees starter Dustin Moseley (1-2) to knock in Frazier.
Griffin, Sutton, Valaika and Castillo led Louisville's 10-hit attack with two apiece.
Game 2 of the four-game series is at 2:05 p.m. Sunday afternoon. In addition to the usual kids-run-the-bases postgame, there will be an inflatable Mortenson Family Dental Kid's Zone promotion with a play area set up in the Hall of Fame Pavilion from 1-4 p.m. There will also be special appearances by Dora the Explorer from 2:15-3 p.m. and 3:20-4 p.m. in the Jackson Street Patio Area on the main concourse.
