The Louisville Bats were shut down in the series finale against St. Paul, losing 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at CHS Field. The Bats' offensive struggles continued into the final game of the series, as they were held hitless through six innings.
Jose Acuña (L, 1-1) manned the mound for the Bats, while Connor Prielipp opposed the Louisville offense. Neither pitcher gave up a baserunner until the third inning, when Dayne Leonard earned a walk.
The Bats couldn’t generate any further offense beyond that, which led St. Paul to take the lead in the bottom frame. After Acuña gave up a leadoff walk, Kala’i Rosario flew his first home run of the season to give the Saints an early advantage. After another single and two outs, Acuña gave up another two-run homer before getting out of the inning with a 4-0 edge in favor of the home team.
Without any hits to come around, the Bats had to try and manufacture runs with players aboard on walks. That formula didn’t pan out, as three walks between the fourth and fifth innings still resulted in empty scoring chances for Louisville.
Both teams took a standstill after St. Paul’s lone scoring effort in the third. With the Saints once again tossing a bullpen game, the variance in pitch arsenal gave the Bats issues as they remained hitless through the sixth. On the flipside, Acuña battled through surrendering the deadlock and held St. Paul to just two more hits.
The no-hit chance for St. Paul was broken in the seventh, as Michael Chavis led off with a single but was then cut down at second trying to extend his hit. Once again, the Bats went down in order shortly after. Zach McCambley relieved Acuña of his duties in the bottom frame, finishing his line at four runs on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts through 6.0 innings.
McCambley relinquished another run for the St. Paul side before getting out of the inning, allowing an RBI double to Walker Jenkins. Louisville went down in order for the fifth time in eight innings.
Hunter Parks tossed a scoreless eighth, paving the way for the Bats to finally gather their first run after Hector Rodriguez flew a solo home run in the top of the ninth. Michael Toglia posted a single, but Chavis grounded into a double play shortly thereafter to give St. Paul a 5-1 series finale win.
Chavis, Toglia, and Rodriguez’s hits were the only three recorded by Louisville today. Saints reliever Eduardo Salazar (W, 1-0) played a part in a Saints pitching staff that allowed only seven base runners in the series finale.
The Bats (47-47) continue a stretch on the road, this time traveling to Toledo for a six-game series against the Mud Hens. The first game of the series is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday night at Fifth Third Field. Nick Curran will have the call on Sports Talk 790.