The Durham Bulls beat the Louisville Bats 4-2 Sunday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park to win the best-of-five Governors’ Cup playoff series 3-2 and end Louisville’s remarkable season.
The Louisville Bats capped off an incredible, and improbable, 2010 regular season Monday. Here is a look back at the Top 10 moments of the 2010 season so far, as the Bats prepare for their best-of-five playoff series that begins at 6:05 p.m. Wednesday night against the Durham Bulls at Louisville Slugger Field.
The Louisville Bats lost 5-3 to Indianapolis on Sunday night at Louisville Slugger Field, but still have a chance to win their third division title in a row. That's because Toledo clobbered Columbus 9-1 Sunday. The Clippers lead Louisville by a half-game in the International League West heading into Monday - the final day of the regular season. If the Bats beat the Indians (first pitch is set for 1 p.m.) and the Clippers lose at Toledo (first pitch 1 p.m.), Louisville will win its third West title in a row.
The Louisville Bats bombed the Indianapolis Indians 16-6 at Victory Field on Friday night to pull within a half-game of Columbus in the International League West with three games remaining in the regular season. The Bats lead Syracuse by three games in the IL wildcard standings and can clinch a playoff spot with a Saturday victory, or a loss by the Chiefs. Michael Griffin, left, went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and four runs scored to lead Louisville at the plate.
The Louisville Bats built an early 4-1 lead at Indianapolis, but the Indians rallied for a 7-5 win at Victory Field on Thursday night. The loss dropped Louisville 1 1/2 games behind Columbus, which beat Toledo on Thursday, in the International League West with four games to play. The Bats, however, do lead Syracuse by three games in the IL wildcard race.
A pair of pitchers limited Louisville to only four hits as the host Toledo Mud Hens beat the Bats 4-1 in just two hours and six minutes at Fifth Third Field on Tuesday night. The loss dropped Louisville a half-game behind Columbus in the International League West with six games remaining in the regular season. But the good news is the Bats lead Buffalo and Syracuse by four games in the IL wildcard race.
A five-run seventh inning and some solid pitching propelled the Louisville Bats to an 8-0 win over the Toledo Mud Hens on Sunday afternoon at Louisville Slugger Field. The victory, coupled with one by Columbus, helped Louisville maintain its 1 1/2-game lead over the Clippers in the International League West standings. Jeremy Horst, left, notched his first Triple-A victory for the Bats.
The Louisville Bats, who were in fourth place in the International League West at the Triple-A All-Star break, moved into first in the division Thursday night. Louisville's 10-4 win over host Toledo, coupled with Columbus' 4-3 13-inning loss to Syracuse, gave the Bats a half-game lead over the Clippers in the West. Chris Valaika, left, and Wladimir Balentien each went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead Louisville's 17-hit attack.
Wladimir Balentien's two-run double in the top of the ninth gave he Louisville Bats an 8-7 win over host Toledo at Fifth Third Field as they improved to 9-2 in one-run games in July and August. Balentien, left, went 3-for-5 with five RBIs.
