Bats’ Furious Comeback Falls Short in 7-6 Loss to Indians

July 5, 2024 – International League (IL)
Louisville Bats News Release

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – The Louisville Bats attempted a furious comeback with six unanswered runs after falling down 7-0 early but failed to complete the bid, losing 7-6 to Indianapolis on Friday night.

Hernán Pérez, Peyton Burdick, and Erik González each had two hits and combined for four RBI and four runs to lead the offensive effort, with Pérez tallying the only home run of the game for either side.

The Bats bullpen continued to be the bright spot in this rough stretch, as Yosver Zulueta, Brooks Kriske, and Zach Maxwell combined for 6.2 shutout innings with seven strikeouts to provide the comeback chance for Louisville.

After a quiet first for the Bats offense against Indianapolis starter Domingo Germán, the Indians wasted no time getting on the board. Louisville starter Justus Sheffield forced Ji Hwan Bae to ground out to begin his outing but gave up two singles with an out in between to put two on with two outs for Liover Peguero. The shortshop took advantage, hitting a triple to score both runners and give Indianapolis an early 2-0 lead.

The Bats loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the second on a single, walk, and hit by pitch, but Rece Hinds popped out in the infield to end the threat.

The Indians kept their foot on the gas in the bottom half. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, and Bae flew out to center field for a sacrifice fly to score Gilberto Celestino from third. Alika Williams followed with a single and Henry Davis smacked a double to score three more runs, extending the Indianapolis advantage to 6-0.

Zulueta relieved Sheffield (L, 0-1) to attempt to limit the damage with Davis at second and one out. Davis swiped third and scored on a throwing error by Michael Trautwein, but Zulueta did his job from there to hold the score at 7-0.

Both teams went down in order in the third frame, and the Louisville offense woke up in the fourth against Germán. The righty struck out the first two he faced, but Pérez found grass with a single and González followed with a double to score Pérez. Nick Dombkowski replaced Germán and immediately gave up a single to Jacob Hurtubise that scored González and inched the Bats closer at 7-2.

Zulueta posted another zero in the bottom of the fourth to finalize his 2.2 scoreless innings and tenth consecutive outing without allowing an earned run.

After getting nothing going in the previous frame against Ryan Borucki (W, 1-0),…