Noelvi Marte Walks Off Indy, Secures 6-5 Win

The Louisville Bats escape multiple close calls in the field, as clutch plays against the Indianapolis Indians led to a 6-5 walk-off victory at Louisville Slugger Field on Wednesday afternoon.

In the bottom of the ninth, Garrett Hampson doubled and moved to third on a groundout. An intentional walk would lead to Noelvi Marte walking the Bats off with a sacrifice fly, securing a 6-5 win over Indy.

Indy continued their momentum from the night before to start the game off, working the bases loaded, and plating two runs on an RBI single to grab an early 2-0 lead in the top half of the first. Noelvi Marte would answer right back in the home half of the inning, driving in Francisco Urbaez on a single of his own to cut the lead down to one run.

Ivan Johnson launched a 429-foot blast in the bottom half of the second inning. It was his seventh of the year and would knot the game up at 2-2.

The Indians would smack a two-run home run in the top of the third to stretch their lead back out to two runs, keeping the Bats at a distance, 4-2. Louisville starter Nate Peterson would exit the game shortly after, going 2.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. Julian Garcia would enter the game and strike out three in a row to limit the damage.

Michael Toglia launched a home run off Indianapolis starter Noah Davis in the third. It would be his second game in a row with a home run, and the 13th between the two clubs in the opening two games of the series.

Davis would exit after 5.0 innings, having allowed three runs, two of which were earned. He would do so on six hits, two of which were home runs.

Hampson would come through clutch in the sixth inning, smoking his first triple of the year to left-center field. That would score two runs, giving the Bats their first lead of the day at 5-4.

The Tribe looked to respond, loading the bases with nobody out in the seventh. Reliever Anthony Misiewicz would not fold under pressure, however. A lineout to Hampson, followed by a spectacular defensive save by Toglia, and a full-count strikeout would preserve the lead for the Bats.

Indy would then tie things up in the eighth inning via an RBI double. With runners in scoring position and nobody out, Louisville's pitching staff had to escape a jam once again. Back-to-back strikeouts by Trevor Kuncl and a final strikeout by Yunior Marte (W, 2-0) would hold the Indians to the tie at 5-5.

Despite the rocky start to the game, the Bats' pitching staff would bear down, striking out 18 batters among the six pitchers, the most they have had this season. The Indians left 17 men on base and went 3-20 with runners in scoring position, which proved to be decisive in the game. Four Bats players, including late-game heroes Marte and Hampson, notched multi-hit games in the victory. Cam Sanders (L, 0-1) took the loss for Indy, as he let up the game-winning run.

The Bats (24-17) continue their series against Indianapolis (16-25) 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.