Ryan Frierabend, JJ Hoover, and Donnie Joseph combined to pitch a three hit shutout Sunday and the Louisville Bats got just enough offense to beat the Pawtucket Red Sox 2-0. It is the Bats’ seventh straight victory.
Freierabend pitched seven flawless innings, giving up just one hit and four walks while striking out five. Hoover came in and pitched a perfect eighth while Joseph worked around two hits in the ninth to pick up his third save of the season with the Bats.
Bill Rhinehart’s RBI single in the third gave the Bats the only run they would need. The Bats added on a run when Joey Gathright singled home Cody Puckett.
Gathright had a stellar day at the plate, getting four of the Bats’ seven hits. Puckett, who was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored, extended his hitting streak to seven games, also the length of the Bats’ winning streak.
The Bats improved their record to 29-49 and are now within 18 games of the first place Indianapolis Indians. The Bats also improved their June record to 12-12. With the victory, the Bats have secured their second straight series victory and first road series victory of the season.
The teams lock arms for the fourth and final game of the series Monday night. The Bats are scheduled to send Chad Reineke (2-5, 4.20 ERA) to the mound against former Bat Justin Germano (8-3, 2.40 ERA). Germano’s eight wins are tied for the league lead. First pitch in scheduled for 7:05 Monday.
