Bats Homer Three Times in 7-5 Win over Columbus
September 9, 2022 – International League (IL) – Louisville Bats News Release
LOUISVILLE, KY- The Louisville Bats (54-79) launched three home runs in their win over the Columbus Clippers (76-55) on Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
Center fielder Will Brennan led off the game for the Clippers with an infield base knock, his fourth consecutive hit to start a game in the series this week after he tallied a leadoff triple on Tuesday, a double on Wednesday, and a single on Thursday.
Two hitters later, catcher Bo Naylor continued his hot streak in Louisville with a double deep into the right center field gap to score Brennan from first, giving the Clippers a 1-0 lead.
Louisville answered the call in the second inning as Cristian Santana, fresh off his three-hit, two homer game on Thursday, and TJ Hopkins each reached with singles to set the stage for Juniel Querecuto. He jumped on the first pitch of the at-bat, pulling a double down the left field line to clear the bases and give the Bats a 2-1 advantage.
Louisville padded its lead in the following two innings, thanks to an RBI-single from second baseman Leonardo Rivas in the second, and a solo shot from Juniel Querecuto in the third, good for his ninth home run of the season.
Columbus got a run back in the top of the fourth when right fielder George Valera hit a home run to left center field. The Clippers threatened to cut into the lead even more, adding a couple of baserunners after the homer, but Louisville starter Deck McGuire (4-4, 6.54) was able to mitigate the damage and get out of the inning with a 4-2 lead.
McGuire would finish the day tossing six innings and allowing just two runs on five hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts to earn his first quality start of the season.
The lead grew in the fourth inning when TJ Hopkins launched his third home run of the season, a 441 foot, two-run blast over the berm in left center field that bounced on the concourse and off of the video board.
Stephen Piscotty tacked on one more for the Bats in the seventh inning when he connected with a 99 MPH fastball from Columbus reliever Carlos Vargas, sending his third home run of the season onto the grassy berm in left center.
Louisville reliever Matt Pidich worked two scoreless innings following McGuire, facing the minimum and notching a pair of strikeouts.
Columbus made it interesting in the top of the ninth, plating three runs and bringing the tying run to the plate, but reliever Ricky Karcher entered the game and induced a ground ball to second base to earn his first career Triple-A save in his first opportunity.
The penultimate game of the six game series will be tomorrow night (September 10) at Louisville Slugger Field with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Right hander Ben Lively (2-5, 4.18) will take the hill for the Bats to face off with fellow righty Xzavion Curry (3-1, 4.62) of Columbus.
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