VanMeter homers as Bats lose in extras, 2-1

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Louisville Bats (1-4) dropped the series opener to the Columbus Clippers (4-1) by a 2-1 score in 10 innings Monday night at Huntington Park. It is the second time the Bats have gone to extra innings in the early going of the 2019 season.

Both starting pitchers were locked in for the most part, with Louisville right-hander José López (0-0, 2.25) surrendering just one run in 4.0 innings, allowing two hits while walking three and striking out five. The lone run Lopez gave up was a two-out Bobby Bradley home run in the bottom of the fourth to give the Clippers a 1-0 lead.
Bats second baseman Josh VanMeter wasted no time supplying the equalizer, blasting a solo home run in the top of the fifth off Columbus starting pitcher and former Bats right-hander Asher Wojciechowski (0-0, 1.50).
Louisville's bullpen did its job in holding the Clippers for a majority of the late innings, with relievers Jesús Reyes, Matt Bowman, Jimmy Herget and Ian Krol covering the rest of the game after Lopez's departure and allowing just one unearned run, the game-winning Columbus run in the bottom of the 10^th. Cameron Maybin came around to score on a throwing error by Bats first baseman Brian O'Grady on a fielder's choice hit by Bradley, handing Louisville the fourth loss in its last five games, and two coming in extra innings.
The Bats and Clippers are back at it tomorrow for game two of the three-game series before the Bats head home for their first home series of the 2019 season, which is set to start on Thursday at 7 p.m. against the Gwinnett Stripers.