Bats Suffer 18-2 Defeat to Iowa on Saturday Night

April 29, 2023 – International League (IL) – Louisville Bats News Release

Des Moines, IA – Reds top prospect Elly De La Cruz smashed his first Triple-A homer, but it wasn’t enough as the Louisville Bats (9-16) suffered an 18-2 loss to the Iowa Cubs (15-8) on Saturday night at Principal Park.

Iowa got to work early, putting up eight runs in the first, highlighted by a grand slam, to take an early 8-0 lead.

The I-Cubs continued to pile on the runs in bunches, scoring three runs in the second and fourth innings, extending their lead to 14-0.

Reds top prospect Elly De La Cruz put Louisville on the board in the top of the sixth, launching a solo home run, the first of his Triple-A career. The 400-foot dinger was the twelfth Bats homer in six games and extended the team’s season-long home run streak to six straight games. Christian Encarnacion-Strand kept the inning going with a one out single and was eventually brought home by a two-out double off the bat of TJ Hopkins, cutting the Bats deficit down to 14-2.

Iowa answered with another four runs in the bottom half of the inning, taking an 18-2 lead.

Infielder Alejo Lopez became the first position player to take the mound for Louisville this season, tossing a scoreless eighth inning.

The Bats loaded the bases in the top of the ninth but couldn’t capitalize, ultimately falling to the I-Cubs by a final score of 18-2.

Louisville will look to earn a series split with Iowa tomorrow, Sunday, April 30 with first pitch set for 2:08 pm E.T. Bats righthander Levi Stoudt (1-1, 3.38) will take the mound for Louisville for his second start of the week, facing off against fellow righty Javier Assad (0-1, 6.00) for the I-Cubs.

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