In a very impressive bounce-back from a loss to open the series, the Louisville Bats scored a season-high 20 runs against the Iowa Cubs with help from a cycle by Hector Rodriguez in a 20-5 win on Wednesday night at Louisville Slugger Field.
In the bottom of the sixth, a triple was all that was left for Hector Rodriguez to hit the first cycle by a Bat since 2023 by Matt McClain, and the first at home since Scott Schebler. The lefty powered a ball deep to right field that barely stayed in the ballpark. From there, he hustled his way around the bases and slid into third, securing his cycle. Rodriguez stands alone as the only Bat with a cycle and a three-home run game in the same year.
The Bats got off to a hot start in the contest, with Michael Toglia showing off some flashy defense on an unassisted double play. In the bottom half of the first, Hector Rodriguez drove in a run to grab hold of the lead early, 1-0.
Iowa wasted no time getting on the board, as they nabbed the lead in the top of the second off a two-RBI Double by Ben Cowles. Another single would drive him in, giving the I-Cubs a 3-1 advantage in the second.
The Louisville offense was ignited and didn't look back in the third, with Francisco Urbaez looping an RBI single to score TJ Friedl. Austin Hendricks outhustled the I-Cubs defense to reach on an infield error, which scored Toglia from third. To cap off a five-run inning, Will Banfield went deep on Iowa starter Jordan Wicks (L, 0-4) with a three-run homer to grasp the lead once again for Louisville, 6-3. The I-Cubs notched a quick response, scoring on a sac fly to cut into the lead 6-4 in the fourth.
Rodriguez took advantage of a new pitcher in for Iowa, as he would take the second pitch from Ryan Jensen 420 feet for a three-run home run, widening the gap for Louisville 9-4. That would close the book officially on Wicks, where he pitched 3.0 innings, allowing eight runs, four of which were earned, on nine hits.
Friedl continued his outstanding day at the plate in the fifth, smoking his first Bats homer of the year, a two-run shot, to extend the Louisville lead. Rodriguez followed suit in the hit party, cracking an RBI double to further keep the I-Cubs at bay. Toglia added an RBI single, and Louisville commanded a 13-4 lead through five innings.
Will Banfield started off the sixth inning with his second homer of the night, flying a solo shot to lead off the inning. It is his sixth of the year, and he kept the Bats' scoring streak to four innings in a row, as well as extended the lead out to double digits, 14-4. Rodriguez followed suit with his triple that secured his cycle and scored another pair of runs, which was accompanied by an RBI double to put Louisville in firm control, 18-4.
To add to Bats' history, Ivan Johnson notched an RBI single to secure a season-high 19 runs in one game, keeping the game thoroughly out of reach for Iowa, 19-4. As an exclamation point to the night, Austin Hendrick smacked another Bats homer to reach the 20-run mark for the first time since 2012 against Gwinnett.
From there, Iowa notched one run in the ninth, and the Bats claimed an unbelievable 20-5 win.
Every single Bats hitter reached base in the game, with Rodriguez being the shining light of the evening. TJ Friedl was just a triple shy of a cycle of his own, and Will Banfield slotted two homers for Louisville. The Bats scored seven out of eight offensive trips in the victory. Jared Lyons (W, 1-1) notched the win for Louisville, going 2.0 innings and allowing only one run on two hits.
The Bats (34-30) continue their series bout against the I-Cubs (26-37) on Thursday night. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. EST at Louisville Slugger Field. Nick Curran and Jim Kelch will be on the call on Sports Talk 790.