Richardson Shines in Debut as Bats Outlast Indianapolis 5-3 in Extras

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Lyon Richardson dazzled in his triple-A debut as the Louisville Bats (53-45) outlasted the Indianapolis Indians (46-53) winning 5-3 in extra innings on Friday night.

Making his triple-A debut, Bats starter Lyon Richardson opened the game by striking out four of the first six batters he faced, including all three batters he saw in the first inning. Limited by pitch count, Richardson was nearly perfect in his 3.0 innings of work, giving up just one hit while striking out five.

The Bats finally scored the game's first runs in the top of the fourth inning. Nick Martini led off the frame with a single followed by a two-run home run from Noelvi Marte, his second of the season, to take a 2-0 lead.

Indianapolis responded in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run homer of their own to tie the game at 2-2. They would take a 3-2 lead in the following frame after plating a run on a base hit and a walk.

In the top of the eighth, a one out double off the bat of Alejo Lopez would turn into a run after Nick Martini brought him around to score with an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.

After the game remained tied through nine, Jhonny Pereda kicked off the top of the tenth with a single to set the Bats up first and third with nobody out. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Stuart Fairchild would bring the free runner Jose Barrero home to score and give Louisville a 4-3 advantage. Martini immediately brought home pinch runner Michael Siani in the next at-bat to extend the lead to two at 5-3.

Tony Santillan (0-1, 6.60) came on to pitch for Louisville in the tenth and shut down the Indians to secure the win and earn his first save of the season.

The series will continue with game five on Saturday at 7:05 P.M. from Victory Field in Indianapolis. Levi Stoudt (2-3, 5.56) will toe the rubber for the Bats while Luis Ortiz (2-4, 4.71) is expected to go for the Indians.