The Louisville Bats split the doubleheader with the Columbus Clippers, winning game one 5-0, and the Clippers taking game two 7-3 at Huntington Park on Saturday evening.
Game one started slow, with both teams struggling to put runners across the plate. Louisville starter Brandon Leibrandt (W, 2-2) and Pedro Avila (L, 1-5) of Columbus were both dealing from the jump.
Noelvi Marte would snap the scoreless drought in the third, going yard on a 3-0 pitch with two outs. Leibrandt would hold the Clippers scoreless through their half, with the Bats going into the second part of game one up 1-0.
Michael Chavis walked to lead off the fourth, and Austin Hendrick crushed his first Triple-A homer just one inning after the Marte home run, smashing a 391-foot shot over the scoreboard. Hector Rodriguez would line a single to right, scoring Dayne Leonard, and further extending the Louisville lead 4-0.
Leibrandt would surrender his first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth, but would quickly work out of the inning to keep the Clippers scoreless.
Avila would exit the game at the beginning of the fifth. He went 4.0 innings, surrendering five hits and four earned runs, with three of them coming on home runs. Andrew Walters came in as his replacement, and Michael Toglia took immediate advantage, blasting his 10th home run of the year. It marked the third home run in as many innings for the Bats.
After a walk and two more singles, Walters’s day was done. His stint lasted just one-third of an inning, allowing three hits and one run. A double play would end the inning for Louisville, but Leibrandt continued to dominate the home half of the inning, setting the Clippers down in order once again.
Leibrandt would give up just his second hit of the game, with a double in the sxith to put the Clippers in scoring position with one out. The Bats' defense clawed out of the inning unscathed, however, keeping the shutout alive.
To end the game, Pat Kelly called to his bullpen, with lefty Anthony Misiewicz standing in to close the door on Columbus. Leibrandt was nothing short of spectacular, going 6.0 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four to earn his second straight win.
The Clippers went down in order by Misiewicz, and Louisville would take game one of the doubleheader 5-0.
Game two told a different story for both offenses. Two home runs, one being a grand slam, would put the Clippers up 7-0 after being held to just two hits in game one. It would be a quick start for Lyon Richardson (L, 2-2) as he would exit after pitching just 1.1 innings, giving up seven runs on four hits.
Both sides would go quiet, with Columbus starter Ryan Webb (W, 1-4) keeping the Bats at bay.
The Bats' offense would show signs of life throughout the game. Arroyo and Marte doubled in separate innings, but Louisville could not capitalize, however, as they left a total of six runners on base during the game.
Webb exited the game after going 5.2 innings, his longest start of the season. He gave up five hits, while also walking five batters. Tommy Mace came in for him, and Louisville’s offense jumped on the fresh arm. With two men on due to Webb walks, Will Banfield took Mace deep in the sixth to cut the lead 7-3.
That would be the last bit of offense the game would see. The Clippers would close the game out in one, two, three fashion.
The Bats (28-22) wrap their series against Columbus (26-24) on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. EST at Huntington Park. Nick Curran will be on the call on Sports Talk 790.