Bats Fall In Seesaw Battle To Stripers 8-7
The Louisville Bats were unable to hold a pair of late leads, dropping a wild, back-and-forth affair 8-7 to the Gwinnett Stripers on Friday night in front of 6,874 at Louisville Slugger Field. Louisville righty Randy Wynne didn’t get off to an ideal start. Former Bat Alejo Lopez began the
The Louisville Bats were unable to hold a pair of late leads, dropping a wild, back-and-forth affair 8-7 to the Gwinnett Stripers on Friday night in front of 6,874 at Louisville Slugger Field.
Louisville righty Randy Wynne didn’t get off to an ideal start. Former Bat Alejo Lopez began the game with a leadoff double. Nacho Alvarez Jr. followed with a two-run homer, his eighth of the season, to put the visitors up a pair quickly. They added one more in the third on an RBI single from Harold Ramirez, his first hit as a Striper.
Wynne began to settle down with a scoreless top of the fourth, giving the Louisville offense a chance to get back in the game. Blake Dunn recorded the first Bats hit of the night with a single that deflected off the glove of Gwinnett starter Hurston Waldrep. Rece Hinds then doubled off the wall in left to put two in scoring position. Davis Wendzel got the Bats on the board with an RBI ground out, scoring Dunn. A balk from Waldrep allowed Hinds to score, cutting the Gwinnett lead to 3-2 after four.
In the fifth, Wynne quickly set the Stripers down in order, and the Bats would turn the game around from there. Joey Wiemer started the bottom half off with an infield single and quickly stole second base. The next hitter, Eric Yang, deposited Waldrep’s 1-1 offering 387 feet into the left field stands for a go-ahead two-run homer, his first big fly at the Triple-A level, to put the Bats in front for the first time 4-3. Dunn kept the inning going with a walk, stole second, and came home on an RBI single from Edwin Rios for a two-run Bats advantage.
Pitching with the lead for the first time, Wynne worked around a leadoff in the top of the sixth to retire the next three Stripers he faced, ending a quality start. Despite allowing a season-high 10 hits, Wynne held the Stripers to three runs against, striking out four over six innings to leave in line for the win.
Reiver Sanmartin couldn’t hold the lead in the seventh. Following two quick outs, the Stripers connected on four straight hits, capped by an RBI single from Ramirez and a game-tying double from Chadwick Tromp to even the score at five at the seventh inning stretch.
The Bats didn’t take long to retake the lead. Singles from Dunn and Hinds got the inning started. An error loaded the bases with nobody out. Wendzel was able to lift a sacrifice fly to deep center, bringing in Dunn with the go-ahead run. P.J. Higgins did the same with another fly ball to deep center, allowing Hinds to dive home with another run for a 7-5 Bats lead.
Yosver Zulueta (L, 2-2) was next into the game for the Bats in the eight and also struggled. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Alvarez’s infield single scored a run, and an errant throw from Higgins at third allowed the tying run to score. Eli White restored the Stripers’ lead with another single, this time to right for an 8-7 Gwinnett advantage.
Domingo Gonzalez (W, 1-1) held the lead for the Stripers in the eighth. Casey Legumina kept the deficit at one for Louisville in the ninth. Dunn doubled to lead off the bottom of the ninth against Stripers closer Ken Giles (S, 4). But the veteran righty rebounded to strike out Hinds and Rios, and Higgins to finish the win and earn the save.
For the Bats, Dunn led the way offensively, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a walk, and his 20th stolen base of the season. Hinds, Wiemer, and Yang each recorded a pair of hits in the loss. The Stripers produced 19 hits in the win, led by four each from White and Tromp.
The Bats (57-65, 19-29 second half) continue the series with the Stripers (62-62, 27-22 second half) on Saturday night. First pitch at Louisville Slugger Field is set for 7:15 p.m. Nick Curran and Jim Kelch will be on the call for 1450/96.1 WXVW.
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.