By Josh Cook
It was YMCA Summer Camp Day at Louisville Slugger Field on Wednesday, but might as well have been 2-for-1 Day.
That's because the 7,052 in attendance got to see two of the best young arms in the Cincinnati Reds organization for the price of one. And they got to see them lead the Louisville Bats to a 7-4 win over the Toledo Mud Hens at Slugger Field.
Edinson Volquez, the 26-year-old who is down from the Reds on a rehab assignment, pitched five solid innings, while 22-year-old Aroldis Chapman threw two innings of relief as Louisville (34-39) won its second straight game.
Meanwhile the Bats' bats provided plenty of run support, pounding out 13 hits.
Toledo (40-33), though, took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Wilkin Ramirez singled, moved to third on Robinson Diaz's double and scored on Will Rhymes sacrifice fly.
Louisville tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Chris Valaika singled with one out, moved to second on Michael Griffin's single, then scored on Zack Cozart's two-out hit.
Then in the bottom of the fourth Juan Francisco doubled with one out, then Todd Frazier hit a home run to center field. It was his ninth of the season and his second in as many days.
The Mud Hens moved within 3-2 in the sixth, scoring off Louisville reliever Carlos Fisher who started the sixth inning. Volquez (1-0), who was on a pitch count of 80, allowed only three hits and one earned run while striking out one over five innings.
The Bats made it 4-2 in the bottom of the inning when Francisco doubled with two outs, then scored on Frazier's single. That chased Toledo starter Ruddy Lugo (2-4), who gave up nine hits and four earned runs while walking three.
Louisville put the game away with a three-run seventh inning. Michael Griffin doubled with one out, then Drew Sutton walked before Cozart tripled to bring in both. Yonder Alonso followed with an RBI-single.
Toledo scored single runs in the eighth and ninth. The first of those came against Chapman, who pitched the seventh and eight innings. The $30-million man allowed two hits and one earned run, while walking one and striking out three.
Closer Jon Adkins gave up a leadoff homer to Ramirez in the ninth, but that was it.
Francisco went 3-for-4 at the plate to raise his June batting average to .343. Meanwhile Cozart, Frazier, Wilkin Castillo and Griffin added two hits apiece. Cozart and Frazier had three RBIs.
The only black mark for the Bats was their recent fielding problems continued as they committed three errors. It was their ninth straight game with at least one error.
The two teams close out their four-game series, and the Bats close out their eight-game homestand, at 7:05 p.m. Thursday night. Chapman was scheduled to start for Louisville, but because he pitched Wednesday left-hander Ben Jukich (2-3, 4.14 earned run average) will take the mound. He'll take on Toledo right-hander Rick Porcello, who was reassigned from the Detroit Tigers after posting a 4-7 record with a 6.14 ERA in 13 starts this season.
It will be Budweiser Game Time Happy Hour, with $1 Bud and Bud Lights, from 5:30-7 p.m. There will also be live music from the National Guard Rock Band.
