TJ Hopkins Walks Off Nashville for Series Sweep
LOUISVILLE, KY – TJ Hopkins blasted an extra innings, three-run walk-off homer to propel the Louisville Bats (49-39) to an 8-5 win to sweep the Nashville Sounds (47-41) on Sunday night at Slugger Field. The Bats have scored eight-or-more runs in seven straight games, becoming the fifth team in Triple
LOUISVILLE, KY – TJ Hopkins blasted an extra innings, three-run walk-off homer to propel the Louisville Bats (49-39) to an 8-5 win to sweep the Nashville Sounds (47-41) on Sunday night at Slugger Field.
The Bats have scored eight-or-more runs in seven straight games, becoming the fifth team in Triple A to do so since at least 2005.
Louisville got off to a quick start, taking the lead in the bottom of the first. Stuart Fairchild got the effort going with a lead-off single. After stealing second, Fairchild later scored on a single by Henry Ramos to put the Bats up 1-0.
After a couple of quiet innings, the Sounds answered by tying up the score at 1-1 with a solo home run in the top of the fourth.
The Bats fought back in the bottom of the inning and retook the lead. Ramos smacked a lead-off single to get the rally going. Noelvi Marte then doubled and Alejo Lopez hit a sac fly to score one for Louisville, making it 2-1. Following up with an RBI double, Jose Barrero extended his hit streak to 11 games and put Louisville ahead 3-1.
Nashville scored again in the top of the fifth thanks to a string of hits and a sac fly, taking the lead at 4-3.
Righthander Brett Kennedy returned for his first start back in Louisville after a stint with Cincinnati where he turned in a win for the Reds. Throwing 4.1 innings in tonight’s game, Kennedy recorded six strikeouts - two of which helped Kennedy escape a bases loaded situation in the first inning.
Matt Reynolds' 16th homer of the year evened up the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh.
Louisville threatened to retake the lead in the bottom of the ninth but were unable to follow through and entered extra innings still tied at four.
The Sounds scored quickly in the top of the 10th on a sac fly to surge ahead 5-4.
The Bats answered in the bottom half of the inning, starting with Chuckie Robinson on second. Ramos smacked a single and Marte hit a sac fly to tie it up at 5-5. Continuing the effort, Alejo Lopez hit a single into centerfield, extending his on-base streak to a team season-high of 24 games - the longest by a Bats player since 2014. TJ Hopkins secured a Bats series finale win with a three-run walk-off homer, putting the final score at 8-5.
Louisville will enjoy an off day tomorrow before picking up with another series at home on Tuesday, July 18 against the Columbus Clippers. With the first pitch set for 6:35 pm E.T., righthander Christian Roa (0-2, 10.32) will take the mound for the Bats.