The Louisville Bats were defeated by the Columbus Clippers twice on Wednesday afternoon at Huntington Park, first a 7-5 defeat in the completion of Tuesday’s suspended game before a 2-1 loss in a pitcher’s duel in Wednesday’s scheduled contest.
In the resumption of Tuesday’s suspended game, the Bats and Clippers began play with the score tied 3-3 and the Bats threatening with two on and one out in the eighth. Two hitters into the resumption, Austin Hendrick gave the Bats the lead with his first Triple-A RBI on a sacrifice fly to center.
In the bottom of the inning, rehabbing Reds lefty Caleb Ferguson (L, 0-2) nearly escaped damage. But with the bases loaded and an 0-2 count, Milan Tolentino blooped a single to shallow left, scoring two runs to give the Clippers their first lead at 5-4. Yunior Marte entered and gave up two more runs on a Cooper Ingle double, giving the home team breathing room at 7-4.
Louisville got a run back in the ninth on Noelvi Marte’s RBI fielder’s choice, his fourth RBI of the game. Down to their last out with the tying run at the plate, the Bats couldn’t complete the comeback as Michael Toglia grounded out to end the game.
In the regularly scheduled game, Clippers southpaw Kolby Allard and Bats righty Davis Daniel were both sharp early. But Daniel was removed from the game after a collision at first base in the third inning. He was able to walk off the field under his own power with Bats Athletic Trainer Wade Hebrink.
Lyon Richardson was called on in long relief and got through the third unscathed. But in the fourth, the Bats’ defense let them down. With runners on first and second and one out, Geroge Valera hit a soft check-swing grounder right in front of home plate. Bats catcher Will Banfield fielded and looked to get the lead runner at third. But his throw to third was off the mark and into left field for an error, allowing the first run of the game to score. Two hitters later, Kody Huff singled to center to double the Clippers’ lead to 2-0.
Allard departed after four scoreless inning. Clippers reliever Franco Aleman (W, 2-1) held the Bats off the board in the fifth and Trenton Denholm did the same in the sixth, working around a pair of baserunners.
For the Bats, Richardson (L, 2-1) allowed the two unearned runs in the fourth, the only runs he gave up over 2.1 innings. Hagen Danner tossed a scoreless sixth, and the Bats offense finally broke through an inning later. With two outs and nobody on against Denholm, Banfield blooped a single into shallow right. Garrett Hampson then hit a high fly ball that landed fair in the right field corner for a double, allowing Banfield to come all the way around and score to cut the Clippers’ lead to 2-1. Denholm was able to hold the lead, inducing a flyout from Edwin Arroyo to end the inning.
Zach Maxwell was next into the game for the Bats and pitched 1.2 scoreless frames before Anthony Misiewicz came in and got the final out of the eighth to preserve the 2-1 score.
In the ninth, Denholm (S, 1) retired the Bats in order to finish the win and earn the save.
Making his first rehab appearance with the Bats, Eugenio Suarez went 1-for-4 with a first-inning double in his first Louisville game since 2018. Three of Louisville’s six hits were doubles in the loss.
The losses mark the first time all season the Bats have dropped the first two games of a series.
The Bats (26-21) and Clippers (25-22) continue their series with another matinee on Thursday afternoon at Huntington Park. First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m. Nick Curran will be on the call for Talk Radio 1080.