Indianapolis Indians vs Louisville Bats

With one out in the top of the ninth, Higgins doubled off the left-field wall for Louisville's first hit since the fifth. Dominic Pitelli walked and Francisco Urbaez was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Balcazar.

On the second pitch from Evan Sisk, Balcazar smashed a curveball deep to right-centre field. Indians centre fielder Mitch Jebb dove but could not reach it as the ball caromed off the wall. Balcazar cruised into third with a bases-clearing triple, stretching Louisville's lead from 3-2 to 6-2.

The triple was Balcazar's first at the Triple-A level and his second extra-base hit since his promotion. It effectively sealed the game.

Leo Balcazar, 3B, Louisville Bats — 2-for-5, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI. Produced just his second multi-hit game with Louisville and delivered the biggest swing of the night.

Michael Chavis, 1B, Louisville Bats — 2-for-4, HR (22), 2 K. The 442-foot solo homer in the second tied the game and gave him 70 RBI on the season, second-most on the team.

P.J. Higgins, C, Louisville Bats — 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R. His two-run single in the fourth gave Louisville the lead for good, and his ninth-inning double started the decisive rally.

Johnathan Harmon, RHP, Louisville Bats — W (1-1), 3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. Entered in the fourth and held the Indians at bay long enough for the offence to break through. It was his first career Triple-A victory.

Ivan Johnson, LF, Louisville Bats — 0-for-3 but 3 stolen bases, 2 R. Stole second and third in the fourth to set up Higgins' go-ahead single, then stole second again in the ninth ahead of the rally.

Cy Nielson, LHP, Indianapolis Indians — 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 5 K. The lefty blanked the Bats after entering in the fourth, extending his scoreless streak to 5.1 innings to begin his Triple-A career.

Louisville's win came despite being out-hit 8-6 and striking out 16 times — a season-high for the Indians pitching staff. The Bats made their hits count, going 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position, while the Indians went 2-for-10. Each side left seven runners on base.

The Bats' bullpen was decisive. After Acuna went three innings (3 H, 1 ER, 3 K), four relievers combined for six innings of two-run ball with seven strikeouts. Tony Santillan and Chase Petty each threw a perfect inning in the seventh and eighth.

Brandon Neeck (2-2) took the loss for Indianapolis after allowing two runs on two hits and two walks in just 0.2 innings. The Indians opened with a bullpen approach; no single starter was credited with more than three innings.

Louisville's 3-for-4 clip with runners in scoring position after the seventh inning was the difference on a night when both sides had identical 7 LOB totals.

The Bats improved to 55-64 overall but remain near the bottom of the International League second-half standings at 16-30. The Indians, despite the loss, sit second in the second-half table at 28-18 with a 59-62 overall mark.

The two sides continue their six-game series on Wednesday 19 August at 6:35 p.m. ET at Victory Field. The Bats send Jared Lyons (1-4, 5.06 ERA) to the mound against Indianapolis' Thomas Harrington (1-6, 6.00 ERA).

Louisville's relievers kept them in it and the offence finally broke through when it mattered most. Balcazar's ninth-inning heroics masked a night where the Bats struck out 16 times and managed only six hits. The Indians, who out-hit their opponent and held the lead twice, will rue missed opportunities with runners in scoring position.