Cody Puckett’s first career Triple-A home run could not have come at a better time. Puckett hit a two-run home run with one out in the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game to push the Louisville Bats to a 3-2 lead over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. The Bats would go on to win the game 4-2. The game was witnessed by 8,357 fans at Louisville Slugger Field.
It was a second straight come-from-behind victory for the Bats. Scranton (40-32) got on the board in the very first inning on an RBI double from Ronnier Mustelier. It was the 48th time in 74 games the Bats’ opponent has scored first; the Bats are now 9-39 in such games.
The Bats (24-49) responded immediately with an RBI single from Mike Costanzo in the bottom of the first to knot the game at a run apiece.
Jack Cust’s sacrifice fly in the third put the Yankees up 2-1.
That was the final run Scranton would get off starter Ryan Feierabend, who went 5-2/3 innings giving up the two runs on just three hits though he walked four and only struck out three.
Feierabend was removed with two outs in the sixth after walking Francisco Cervalli. The Yankees managed to load the bases against reliever Scott Carroll but Ramiro Pena grounded out to end the inning.
Donnie Joseph, who came in to get the final out of the seventh, pitched a scoreless eighth and picked up his first career Triple-A win.
In the bottom of the eighth, Dioner Navarro belted a one out, solo home run to give the Bats a 4-2 lead going into the ninth. It was Navarro’s third homer of the year and his first since June 8.
Jordan Smith pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his seventh save of the season.
It is just the fifth time this season the Bats have won two games in a row and just the fourth time they’ve won three of four. The last two times the Bats have won three of four games, they went on to lose four straight.
The Bats go for that elusive three game winning streak Wednesday morning against the Yankees. Chad Reineke (2-4, 4.14 ERA) will be on the hill for the Bats against Dellin Betances (3-5, 5.91 ERA). Wednesday’s game is a business person’s special at Louisville Slugger Field; first pitch is scheduled for 11:45 a.m.
