Louisville Bats' home debut a winner

**Stardust** · 04-14-2012, 04:15 AM

David Bell was hoping a change of scenery would help cure the Louisville Batsâ offensive ills. They scored just enough to make their new manager a winner in his home debut.

The Bats rallied for a 4-2 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Friday night before a Louisville Slugger Field crowd of 12,108. They snapped a three-game slide and scored more runs in the fifth inning (three) than they had during the skid (two). That was good news for Bell, 39, the youngest manager in the International League and the second-youngest in Triple-A.

He might not have the established firepower Louisville enjoyed in recent season under predecessor Rick Sweet. The parent Cincinnati Reds traded away prospects such as Yasmani Grandal and Dave Sappelt in the offseason, and the Bats might have to scratch for runs while Denis Phipps and Neftali Soto try to get into a Triple-A groove.

The Bats entered this game having scored 26 runs and batted a league-low .193. On Friday they made the most of their five hits. Their best offensive player in this young season, former major league shortstop Paul Janish (.345), did not start but entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth. Heâs the reigning IL Hitter of the Week.

Louisville rallied for three runs in the fifth to erase a 2-0 deficit. Daryl Jones hit a one-out double, stole third and scored on the play when the throw from Columbus catcher Matt Pagnozzi eluded third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall. Corky Miller drew a walk, and with two out Kristopher Negron was hit by a pitch.

Chris Valaika brought them both home with a double to put the Bats ahead.

The game was scoreless until the fifth, when Columbus struck for two runs off right-hander Chad Reineke. Ezequiel Carrera singled, stole second and scored on Cord Phelpsâ ground-rule double. Matt LaPorta was hit by a pitch, and Chad Huffman doubled him home for a 2-0 lead. After Reineke retired Lonnie Chisenhall, Bell pulled him for left-hander Travis Webb (1-0).

Webb walked the first batter he faced but got a groundout to end the fifth. The Batsâ bullpen worked 41/3 scoreless innings, including a perfect ninth by J. J. Hoover for his second save. Webb, Scott Carroll and Hoover combined to allow just two hits.

The Bats had a chance to put the game away after starting the sixth with three straight walks. Jones hit into a forceout to score a run. Miller walked to load the bases again, but Felix Perez hit into a force at home and Negron grounded out to end the inning.

The Clippers had runners at the corners with one out in the seventh but failed to score.

The teams will play the second of the four-game series tonight, with right-hander Andrew Brackman (1-0, 1.50 ERA) starting for the Bats against lefty Chris Seddon (0-0, 6.75).