Jorge's Debut Spoiled By Bats' 5-4 Walk-Off Loss To Clippers

The Louisville Bats were handed a 5-4 walk-off loss to end June after a three-run bottom of the ninth by the Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park on Tuesday night.

Louisville was the first team to threaten, as they had two men on with just one out. Clippers starter Logan Allen managed to work out of the jam, however, and kept the game scoreless going into the bottom half of the third.

Although the Bats threatened yet again with two on and one out in the fourth, Columbus got out of a sticky situation without giving up a run once more.

The Clippers managed to get a runner in scoring position with one out in the fifth. That runner came off a single with a throwing error by Francisco Urbaez that moved Kody Huff to second. That error proved costly because Milan Tolentino doubled to score the runner, followed by an RBI single that put Columbus up 2-0.

Allen exited the game after pitching two outs in the sixth. The lefty starter went 5.2 innings with nine strikeouts while also surrendering five hits.

Aguiar exited the game as well, going 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Anthony Misiewicz took over for the Bats and worked a 1-2-3 inning to keep Louisville within striking distance going into the stretch.

Louisville did not go quietly, however, as they had runners at second and third with just one out. An unlucky lineout by Sam Haggerty was the second out. But Bats newcomer Carlos Jorge notched his first Triple-A hit, as well as his first two RBI, tying up the game 2-2 for Louisville with a single to left.

The defense stepped up in the seventh for the Bats in a bases-loaded situation with one out. Reliever Luis Mey drew a grounder to first baseman P.J. Higgins, who delivered a strike to catcher Will Banfield, right back to Higgins for the inning-ending double play to keep the score tied 2-2.

With two outs in the top of the ninth, the game again fell on the shoulders of the 22-year-old Jorge. With two strikes and all hope almost lost, he smacked a ball into the left field corner, barely out of reach from left fielder CJ Kayfus’s glove for a double. That sent two runners home, giving the Bats their first lead, 4-2. The newest call-up made his mark in the biggest way possible with the game on the line late.

After the clutch at-bat by Jorge, it was up to Columbus to answer, and they did in a big way. They loaded the bases with just one out, and an RBI single by Juan Brito tied things up, and Ralphy Velazquez walked things off with a single to left field against Trevor Kuncl, giving the Clippers the 5-4 win.

Will Dion (W, 4-0) took the win for the home team and Kuncl (L, 1-2) took the loss for Louisville for surrendering the game-winning hit. Despite the loss, Urbaez notched another multi-hit game, and Jorge started his Triple-A career off in a huge way, driving in all four runs for the Bats.

The Bats (41-38, 2-4) continue their series with the Clippers (43-33, 3-2) on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. EST on Tuesday at Huntington Park. Nick Curran will be on the call on Sports Talk 790.