Bats' problems continue at home, lose to Norfolk 4-2

**Stardust** · 05-08-2012, 09:38 AM

Louisville returned home from a 12-game road trip Monday hoping to turn things around, but the Batsâ woes continued.

The Bats fell to Norfolk 4-2 in front of 5,250 fans at Slugger Field for their fourth straight loss. Louisville (10-22) has lost eight of nine and is 1-6 this month.

Bats starter Jeff Francis (2-4) lasted seven innings and surrendered four runs â three in the third â on nine hits. He struck out six.

Norfolk starter Dana Eveland (3-2) was stellar through four innings, allowing just four hits, no walks and striking out four for the Tides (13-17).

Reliever Miguel Gonzalez collected the save. The right-hander entered in the eighth and retired the final six Bats batters.

The Tides got their runs early and held the Bats scoreless until the sixth.

Chris Robinson scored the Tidesâ first hit with a one-out single to left field. Ryan Adams followed with a hard-hit bouncer to shortstop Miguel Rojas, who scooped it up and flipped the ball to second baseman Kristopher Negron. Negronâs throw was on target to first baseman Neftali Soto for the double play.

The Bats had an opportunity in the second with runners on first and second and two out but couldnât convert. Rojas hit a pop fly to center field.

Norfolk got to Francis in the third. The Tides loaded the bases on three singles. That set it up for Matt Antonelli, who knocked a bouncing hit up the middle for a single to put the Tides on the board 1-0.

Jamie Hoffmannâs single to left made it 2-0. Eveland walked in a run and Norfolk led 3-0.

Jai Millerâs solo home run over the center field wall in the fourth made it 4-0.

It appeared Norfolk was ready to tack on more when Adams lofted a hit to left that took Danny Dorn to the warning track, but Dorn made the catch to end the rally.

Right fielder Denis Phipps saved the Bats from falling behind further in the fifth with an athletic, leaping catch at the wall of a shot by Hoffmann.

The Bats escaped the inning when Bill Hall hit a line drive right to third baseman Chris Valaika, whose throw to first caught Antonelli off base.

The Bats cut the deficit in the sixth when Phipps blasted a two-run home run over the right field wall off right-hander Brad Bergesen. It was Phippsâ fourth homer of the season and his second in 10 games.

Rojas made an impressive defensive stop in the eighth. Robinson hit a sharp drive to the shortstop, who bobbled the ball but fired a long throw to first in time.

Rhinehart was 3 for 3 for the Bats. Miller was 2 for 4 for Norfolk.

â¢ The Bats placed outfielder Daryl Jones on the disabled list and activated catcher Dioner Navarro. Navarro was put on the disabled list May 1 with kidney stones.http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2...ext|Sports