Danny Dorn and Bill Rhinehart each hit three run homers Saturday night to lead the way as the Louisville Bats beat the Scranton Wilkes/Barre Yankees 9-5 in their series opener. The game was played in Rochester as Scranton’s PNC Park is undergoing renovations this season.
Dorn’s blast came in the third inning to give the Bats a 4-2. The next inning, Rhinehart matched Dorn’s feat to extend the lead to 7-2. The Bats never looked back from there as they would hold on for the win. Willie Harris added some insurance with a two-run double in the eighth.
Harris, Rhinehart, Dioner Navarro, and Felix Perez all recorded multi-hit games as the Bats (20-44) pounded out 13 total hits.
Chad Reineke started for the Bats and picked up his second win of the season going 5-1/3 innings giving up three runs of six hits. Nick Chrisitiani picked up a hold as he pitched scoreless baseball through the seventh. Jordan Smith pitched the final 1-1/3 innings scoreless to pick up the save.
Former Bats and Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson went 2-for-4 for the Yankees. Brandon Laird also had a pair of hits for Scranton.
The teams hook up for game two of the four game set Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. The Bats will send Tim Gustafson (0-1, 6.75 ERA) to the mound against D.J. Mitchell (5-2, 5.22 ERA) of the Yanks.