Bats, Indians Suspended In Tie Game Friday Night

A late home run brought the Louisville Bats back into the game on Friday night at Victory Field. But their quest to end a season-long 11-game losing streak was thwarted not by the Indianapolis Indians, but by mother nature after a hard-fought nine innings.

With the score tied 5-5 after nine innings, the skies above Victory Field opened and the grounds crew covered the field with the tarp. Ultimately, the game could not be resumed on Friday night and was suspended. It will be completed on Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. at Victory Field. The Bats will begin the resumption at the plate in the top of the 10^th inning. Following the completion of Friday night’s game, Saturday’s regularly scheduled nine-inning game will begin no earlier than 7:05 p.m.

For the second straight night, the Bats got off to a hot start in the first, this time against Indianapolis righty Braxton Ashcraft. The leadoff hitter, Jacob Hurtubise, reached on catcher’s interference to begin the game. Two hitters later, Levi Jordan laced a fair ball down the left field line, allowing Hurtubise to hustle all the away around and open the scoring three hitters in. Making his Triple-A debut, Bats starter Jose Acuna quickly set the Indians down in order in the first, striking out the first two hitters he faced before an inning-ending ground out.

With one out in the third, Hurtubise would single-handedly double the Louisville lead with his second home run of the season and first in his hometown of Indianapolis, a solo blast 396 feet over the right field fence for a 2-0 advantage. The lead didn’t last long, as an RBI single from Nick Yorke and a sacrifice fly from Malcom Nunez tied the game at two apiece after three. The third would be Acuna’s final inning. The 21-year-old wrapped up his first Bats start with two runs against on four hits, walking two and striking out three over three innings in a no-decision.

Facing former Bat Justin Bruihl in the fourth, Louisville quickly restored the lead. Edwin Rios began the frame with a double off the center field fence. P.J. Higgins followed with a single to left, bringing Rios home for a 3-2 Bats edge. Justus Sheffield was first into the game from the Bats bullpen and worked around traffic on the bases in both the fourth and fifth to hold the lead.

He wouldn’t be as fortunate in the sixth. With runners on first and second and one out, Nick Yorke hit a ground ball to short. Bats shortstop Erik Gonzalez fielded it and looked to turn a double play, but his throw to second base was errant for an error, allowing the tying run to score while putting two more runners on second and third. Liover Peguero put Indianapolis in front for the first time with a two-run single. Sheffield was able to escape further damage with a strike him out, throw him out double play, courtesy of a strong throw from Tucker Barnhart trying to catch Peguero stealing third base.

Leading off the top of the seventh, Joey Wiemer hit a sharp ground ball that deflected off Indians reliever Aaron Shortridge for an infield single. After Shortridge got the first two outs, Ivan Johnson got the Bats back with one big swing, crushing his fourth Triple-A home run and second in as many nights with a two-run 377-foot blast to right center, bringing the Bats back even at 5-5.

Casey Legumina entered with the game tied in the seventh and departed with the game still tied after eight, retiring all six hitters he faced to maintain the 5-5 score. In the ninth, Indianapolis closer Connor Sadzeck set the Bats down in order. Bats closer Zach Maxwell struck out a pair in the ninth, sending the game to extra innings.

However, before the 10^th inning could begin, the rain began, ending the night without a winner. Before the game was suspended, Hurtubise and Johnson were each 2-for-4 with a home run. Jordan was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double.

The Bats (57-71, 19-35 second half) and Indians (63-63, 30-23 second half) play the penultimate game of the series on Saturday night following the completion of the suspended game from Friday. First pitch of the resumption at Victory Field is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Nick Curran will be on the call for 1450/96.1 WXVW.