Saturday was a night of season highs for the Louisville Bats. The Bats scored a season high 11 runs and starter Tim Gustafson went a season high seven innings as they cruised to an 11-5 victory over the Rochester Red Wings before a crowd of 10,746 at Louisville Slugger Field.
A night after scoring just one run, the Bats’ offense came to life against former Louisville pitcher Matt Maloney. Corky Miller’s three-run home run highlighted a four run second inning that put the Bats on the board first. It was just the 25th time in 70 games the Bats have scored first. It was the fourth home run of the season for Corky.
After Rochester responded with three runs in the top of the third, Mike Costanzo made it 5-3 with his fifth home run of the season—a 417-foot bomb to the right field bleachers.
“Hits that add on to a lead are big hits,” Bats manager David Bell said. “To be able to continue to score is so important.”
The Bats continued their onslaught in the fourth. In the final at bat of his rehab assignment with the Bats, Scott Rolen sent a towering 437-foot, three-run home run to left-center field to cap another four-run inning to put the Bats up 9-3.
Rolen finished his rehab assignment with the Bats going 2-for-6 with a single Friday and the home run Saturday. He is scheduled to re-join the Reds Sunday.
“That last at bat made it all worth it for him to come here,” Bell said. “I think he’s happy he came down. He looked good.”
Felix Perez, who finished with his second three hit game of the season, had an RBI single in each of the Bats’ big innings.
Costanzo’s RBI single in the sixth gave the Bats their tenth run of the game, and Miller’s RBI sacrifice fly plated their final, season-high eleventh run.
Not to be outdone, Bats starter Tim Gustafson went a season-high seven innings while picking up his second win with the Bats. Gustafson allowed just three runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out four—the best outing of his season.
“It was really a solid start for him,” Bell said. “He has good stuff. He’s been pitching well.”
The Bats and Red Wings wrap up their season series Sunday night. The Bats are scheduled to send Pedro Villarreal (2-3, 3.14 ERA) to the mound against Samuel Deduno (0-1, 3.15 ERA). First pitch for the Father’s Day game is set for 6:05. All fathers will be allowed access to the field to play catch with their children after the game.
