Bats Hope to Stave off Elimination

Louisville, KY – Last night the Louisville Bats failed to rally in the bottom of the ninth as they were defeated by the Durham Bulls, 4-3. The loss puts the Bats on the brink of elimination, as they now trail two games to one in the best-of-five first round playoff series.

The Bats surrendered all four runs in the top of the fourth inning this evening. The game was played at Louisville Slugger Field in front of a lively playoff crowd of 6,345.

Bulls closer Winston Abreu notched all three outs in the bottom of the ninth via the strike out. He disposed of Chris Heisey and Jay Bruce on six straight strikes. Todd Frazier then hit an infield single up the middle, cut off by the shortstop. Juan Francisco came up and hit a nubber down the first base line, and he eluded the swiping tag of Bulls first basemen, Joe Dillon, putting runners on first and second with two out. It was the second time of the night which Frazier and Francisco hit back-to-back infield singles. Chris Valaika then went down swinging to end the game. The save was Abreu’s first of the postseason.

The Bats did get on the board first. Catcher Chris Denove led off the bottom of the third inning with a 392-foot blast to the left field seats. It was his second home run of this postseason, as he hit one in the game one loss. Following Denove, Heisey and Bruce reached on consecutive one-out singles, but the Bats could not capitalize and add to the lead.

The top of the fourth spelled trouble for the Bats and starting pitcher Sam LeCure. LeCure allowed the first five hitters to reach base. He gave up a lead off single to Joe Dillon, followed by back-to-back walks, and then back-to-back singles, plating two runs, giving the Bulls a 2-1 lead. With the bases loaded, LeCure coaxed Michel Hernandez to ground into a double play, but Sean Rodriguez came across the plate. Henry Mateo then singled to right, scoring Justin Ruggiano, extending the Bulls lead to 4-1.

LeCure (0-1, 6.00) was able to bounce back after the rough fourth by pitching a one-two-three fifth, followed by a scoreless sixth inning. He suffered the loss going six innings, giving up six hits, four runs, three walks, while striking out two.

The Bats were able to edge closer in the bottom of the sixth on a line drive home run by Cincinnati Reds top prospect, Yonder Alonso, making it a 4-2 game. It was Alonso’s first Triple-A home run in his third Triple-A game.

Bulls starter Jason Cromer’s night ended after the sixth. Cromer (1-0, 3.00) picked up the win, allowing six hits, two runs, two walks, and striking out three.

The Bats hope to stay alive tonight as they face elimination in game four of the series against the Bulls. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. and the first 2,000 adult fans will receive a 2009 International League West Division Champions T-Shirt.

LHP Tom Cochran (1-0, 3.07 on the season) will take the ball for the Bats. The starting pitcher for the Bulls will be RHP Rayner Oliveros (1-0, 3.48).