Bats Hold On For a 4-3 Win Over St. Paul

LOUISVILLE, KY – The Louisville Bats (69-66) defeated the St. Paul Saints (79-57) 4-3 thanks in part to a season-high 17 strikeouts from Louisville pitching staff, including nine from Christian Roa.

Matt Reynolds launched a 404 ft three-run homer to give the Bats the lead in the seventh inning, his 60th extra base hit of the year - the most by a Bats player since at least 2005.

[Box Score]

St. Paul got on the board in the opening frame of the game, scoring two runs to take an early 2-0 lead.

The Bats answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the second. Henry Ramos led off the frame with a single, followed immediately by Jason Vosler with a single of his own. Ramos moved to third base on a double steal attempt but Vosler was thrown out in the attempt. In the next at-bat, Matt Reynolds sent a high fly ball deep enough to center field to score Ramos on the sacrifice and cut the deficit in half, still down 2-1.

In the top of the third, the Saints tacked on another run after stringing together two walks, a hit by pitch and a single to extend their lead to 3-1.

Making his 10th start of the season, Bats righty Christian Roa (0-4, 6.22) turned in a strong start, tossing 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on three hits with five walks and nine strikeouts. The nine strikeouts are a new season and Triple-A high while his 5.0 innings match his longest outing with the Bats.

Louisville got the offense working in the home half of the seventh. Ramos and Vosler kicked off the inning with back-to-back walks. Matt Reynolds stepped to the plate with no outs in the frame and blasted a 402 ft. bomb to left center field, his team-leading 21st home run of the season, to put the Bats in front 4-3.

Eddy Demurias, Levi Stoudt, Tony Santillan and Alan Busenitz kept the Saints off the board from the sixth through the ninth, only walking one batter while fanning eight.

The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1:05 p.m. ET with Michael Mariot (4-3, 6.93) is scheduled for the Bats.