Bats Walked Off In Series Opener 3-2

Despite taking a perfect game bid into the sixth inning and holding a lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Louisville Bats were walked off in the series opener against the Nashville Sounds 3-2 despite holding the Sounds to four hits Tuesday night at First Horizon Park.

The early parts of the game saw a pitcher’s duel between the two teams, especially from starters Thomas Pannone of Nashville and Chase Solesky of Louisville. Although the Bats threatened many times through the first three innings, they would leave five runners on base, three of which in scoring position.

Pannone exited the game first, going 4.0 innings, allowing five hits and two walks, however no runs and five strikeouts.

Solesky was on fire in his first start with Louisville. The righty was perfect through all 4.0 innings he pitched in and struck out one batter. Kevin Abel was his replacement, and the righty making his fifth appearance with the Bats worked another perfect inning.

Former Louisville reliever Lyon Richardson came in for the starter Pannone, and he was also just as hot as the rest of the pitchers during the bout. He went 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two.

Nashville recorded their first baserunner of the game in the bottom of the sixth, with Abel walking a batter to end the perfect game bid. The no-hit bid was lost one batter later, with a single by Brandon Lockridge that scored the runner that had just stolen second, and taking a 1-0 lead over the Bats.

Leo Balcazar came out swinging in the first pitch of his at-bat in the eighth. Following an infield single from Noelvi Marte, Balcazar crushed his first homer as a member of the Bats, a go-ahead two-run shot that completely flipped the game on its head, allowing Louisville to claim its first lead of the ballgame, 2-1.

The Sounds got the tying and winning runs into scoring position during the bottom of the ninth, against Zach Maxwell and Anthony Misiewicz came in tasked to get three outs with two on. A strikeout got one, and a chopped grounder got another, however Tyler Black smacked a double just out of reach of Carlos Jorge, and Louisville was walked off 3-2 by the Sounds.

Zach Maxwell (L, 2-1) gets credited with the loss, as he was the pitcher at the time when both the tying and winning runs reached base. Jared Koenig (W, 3-1) is handed the win after shutting the Louisville offense down in the ninth inning. Although the Bats lost the game, Solesky and Balcazar were stand outs on the night, with Balcazar recording a multi-hit effort, and Solesky going a perfect 4.0 innings. The Bats left nine men on base in the loss despite outhitting Nashville 9-4.

The Bats (58-73, 19-39 2^nd half) continue their series with the Sounds (72-60, 29-28 2^nd half) on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 7:35 pm EST. Nick Curran will be on the call on Sports Talk 790.