Bats Shut Out In St. Paul 4-0 

In a game that began as a pitcher’s duel, the Louisville Bats weren’t able to produce at the plate and suffered a 4-0 loss to the St. Paul Saints on Friday night at CHS Park, evening the six-game series between the two teams at two games apiece.

Both St. Paul starter Louie Varland and Bats righty Brett Kennedy were nearly unhittable for the first half of the game.

Varland began the game in fine form, setting down the first seven Bats he faced before Levi Jordan’s ground ball deflected off Varland’s foot for an infield single, the first Bats hit of the night. That would be the only baserunner for the Bats for the first five innings.

Kennedy allowed the game’s first baserunner, a two-out single by Matt Wallner in the bottom of the first. From there, the Bats’ veteran starter was dominant, retiring the next 13 hitters he faced to keep the game scoreless through five.

The teams threatened in the sixth to varying results. Jordan began the Louisville half with his second hit of the game. Erik Gonzalez followed with a ground ball up the middle to put two on with nobody out, the first time either team put more than one man on base. Varland worked through the trouble, inducing a double play before striking out Rece Hinds to maintain the scoreless tie.

In the bottom of the inning, the Saints started with a one-out single from Yoyner Fajardo. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. then hit a fly ball to deep center. Bats center Blake Dunn raced back to the wall and made a leap to try and make the catch, but it deflected off his glove and landed on the warning track for a double. Anthony Prato got the Saints on the board with a sacrifice fly to score Fajardo. A passed ball from Louisville catcher P.J. Higgins allowed Keirsey Jr. to score. Wallner capped the inning with a solo home run to put the Saints up 3-0.

Despite his second straight quality start, Kennedy (L, 1-3) would take the loss after giving up three earned runs on four hits, striking out six and walking none.

Pitching with the lead for the first time, Varland (W, 1-0) ended his start with a one, two, three top of the seventh including a pair of strikeouts. He earned the win with seven scoreless innings, allowing just three singles while striking out eight and walking none.

St. Paul added one more in the seventh off Justin Bruihl before Randy Wynne fired a scoreless bottom of the eighth.

Louisville couldn’t do much against the St. Paul bullpen. Rehabbing Minnesota Twins reliever Justin Topa tossed a clean eighth. Diego Castillo allowed a couple hits in the ninth but was able to finish the shutout for the home team.

The Bats were held to five singles in the loss. Jordan and Erik Gonzalez each recorded a pair of hits. The St. Paul pitching trio of Varland, Topa, and Castillo combined for 11 strikeouts and no walks.

The Bats (15-16) and Saints (12-17) continue their series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch at CHS Field is scheduled for 3:07 p.m. Nick Curran will be on the call for 1450/96.1 WXVW.