Bats Roster Consists Of Several Former Chattanooga Lookouts
posted September 4, 2008
) Photo by Tim Evearitt (file photo) Matt Maloney throwing for the Lookouts at AT&T Field in August, 2007. |
A number of former Chattanooga Lookouts participated in the game for the Bats.
The Bats and Bulls offenses were held quiet most of the game as Louisville starting pitcher Matt Maloney and Durham starter David Price were on the top of their games. Maloney had not allowed a hit and only two men had reached base through the first 4.2 innings, but he ran into trouble in the top of the fifth.
After retiring Joel Guzman and Chris Nowak to start the inning, Maloney looked like he was on cruise control. Durham second baseman Elliot Johnson was finally able to crack the armor as he took Maloney's 3-2 pitch just over the left field wall, giving the Bulls a 1-0 lead.
As impressive as Maloney was to start the game, Price was equally as good. The first overall pick in last year's Major League draft was able to get out of some tough situations and held the Bats scoreless. In the first, he gave up a leadoff double to Danny Richar, but pitched his way out of trouble by striking out Kevin Barker and Alvin Colina to end the inning.
In the third, the Bats had another golden opportunity when Paul Janish and Richar both singled with no outs. Price once again used the strikeout to get out of the jam, by retiring Drew Stubbs and Adam Rosales with back-to-back K's and then inducing Kevin Barker to pop out to end the inning.
In the sixth inning the Bats had their best chance to crack the scoreboard when Alvin Colina laced a lead off triple against Bulls reliever Jeremy Cummings. With Colina still on third and one out, Griffin was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. The very next batter Luis Bolivar was then struck in the helmet with a Cummings pitch, loading the bases with one out and causing a stir in the stadium. Janish followed Bolivar with a ground ball to shortstop, who went home to force out Colina. Colina collided with Bulls catcher Josh Johnson causing Johnson to leave the game. Both benches were warned after the incident. Richar grounded out to end the inning, stranding all three base runners. The Bats left 12 men on base for the game.
The high tensions seemed to fuel the Bulls offense the next inning. In the top of the seventh, Dan Johnson and Chris Richard launched back-to-back home runs to start the inning making the score its final of 3-0. The home runs spelled the end of the night for Maloney (0-1 4.50) who was hit with the loss. He pitched six solid innings, giving up four hits, and three earned runs. He also walked two and struck out four.
Price (1-0 0.00) earned his first post-season win, pitching five shutout innings, and giving up only three hits. He also struck out six and walked three. Scott Dohman came in to pitch a flawless ninth to earn the save.
Louisville Bats
Louisville was the International League's hottest team in August, winning 23 of 30 games while posting the League’s highest batting average (.281) and the 2nd-lowest earned run average (3.69). Overall in 2008 the Bats have been an offensive juggernaut, finishing as the IL’s 2nd-highest scoring team with 717 runs.
Manager Rick Sweet has also relied heavily on his bullpen, which easily led the League with 56 saves this season. When the relievers weren’t saving games, they helped keep the team alive long enough for the offense to do its job.
The Bats have the IL’s best record when tied after seven (14-5) and eight (13-3) innings. Only two of the other 13 IL clubs posted winning records against Louisville this season, but one of those was Durham.
Durham Bulls
For the eighth time in 11 years, the Durham Bulls are in the postseason. This is the seventh division championship for the Bulls since 1998. Manager Charlie Montoyo’s club seemingly has the most playoff experience of the four teams still alive, especially considering that many of his players were part of the Double-A Montgomery club that won back-to-back Southern League Championships in 2006 and 2007.
The 2008 Bulls are a team full of contradictions. Durham was 33-39 at home, but went 41-31 on the road. The pitching staff posted the League’s 11th-best ERA (4.24), but also owns the most shutouts (15). At 74-70, the Bulls have the worst record of the four playoff teams by 11.5 games, but they went 5-3 against first round opponent Louisville.
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The Bats and Bulls will get together Thursday night for Game Two of the best-of-five series. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field.
Homer Bailey (4-7, 4.77)) will get the start for the Bats against Bulls Mitch Talbot (13-9, 3.86).
The game can be heard over internet by going to MiLb.com.
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Adapted from MiLB.com and the International League's website.
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