Louisville Bats Notes: May 5

THE TIDE IS HIGH: The Louisville Bats dropped their second straight one-run ballgame to the Norfolk Tides on Friday night, this one by a 5-4 score. The loss gives Louisville its longest losing streak of the season at 4 games, also falling to a season-high 6 games below the .500 mark. The Bats dropped to 3-6 in one-run games on the year, ranking third-most in the IL with 9 one-run games.

HAPPY DERBY DAY: As Louisville celebrates The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs today, the Bats and Tides will play game three of a four-game series at Harbor Park before the Bats return home for a seven-game homestand against the Indianapolis Indians and Toledo Mud Hens starting on Monday, May 7. Last season on Derby Day, Louisville defeated Toledo at Fifth Third Field by an 8-7 score in 10 innings. The season before, Louisville lost 2-1 at Indianapolis on Derby Day.
AGAINST NORFOLK: The Bats will face off against Norfolk 10 times this season across three series, two at Harbor Park and one at Louisville Slugger Field. Norfolk and fellow IL South member Durham are the only out-of-division clubs that Louisville will meet for more than two series in 2018. Last season, LOU faced NOR 10 times, going 4-6 against the Tides, 1-2 at home and 3-4 on the road.
TRANSACTIONS: Louisville has made a handful of transactions over the past few days, including a loan of outfielder Sebastian Elizalde to Monterrey of the Mexican League.
- The Bats welcomed back infielder Dilson Herrera , who made his first start with Louisville this season in Friday's game, going 0-for-3 but reaching twice with a pair of walks. Herrera, who was originally acquired from the Mets in exchange for outfielder Jay Bruce , appeared in 92 games Louisville between 2016-17.
- Louisville also welcomes back right-hander Evan Mitchell , who was transferred from Class AA Pensacola after spending time with the Bats earlier this season. Mitchell gave up a run and got the loss in 1.0 inning of work in last night's game.
- Catcher Joe Hudson was added to the Bats' roster Friday, while right-hander Tanner Rainey was recalled to Cincinnati, his second stint in the Majors this season.
LONG OUTING: Last night left-hander Justin Nicolino went 7.0 innings, tied for the longest start by a Bats pitcher this season. RHP Robert Stephenson also went 7.0 innings back on April 11 against the Columbus Clippers at Louisville Slugger Field in an 8-2 win. Nicolino's 111 pitches last night were also the most thrown by a Bats hurler this season.
DIXON SWINGING A HOT BAT: Bats left fielder Brandon Dixon went 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and a stolen base, leading the team in both categories with 8 and 6 on the season, respectively. He increased his hitting streak to 5 games, his second-longest hit streak of the season. In 20 games this season, Dixon has reached base in 19 of them, including going 2-for-2 in pinch-hit appearances. He has hit safely in 16 of the 20 games.
CINCO DE MAYO: On May 5 last season, the Bats lost at Toledo 4-3 in 10 innings, their first of three straight extra inning games. The season before, Louisville had a scheduled off day on Cinco De Mayo. Since 2008, the Bats are just 1-7 on the holiday, with their lone win coming in 2014, a 10-5 home win over the Norfolk Tides.
AND THEY'RE OFF: Since 2008, the Bats own a 5-6 record on Derby Day, all road games. In 2009, LOU split a doubleheader at Buffalo on Derby Day. Since 2010, the Bats have started a Derby Day pattern, going L-W-L-W-L-W-L-W over the past 8 Derby Days, as they look to buck the trend with a win in Norfolk tonight.