• LAST NIGHT: CHA earned the series split with a 4-2 win over LOU. CHA touched LOU starter RHP Armando Galarraga for 4er in the first three innings of the game and that would be all they needed as they got six strong innings from RHP Tony Pena, Jr. (5h, 2er, 1bb, 8k). Galarraga (2-2) suffered the loss to even his record and went 6.0ip and allowed the 4er on 7h and 2bb while striking out six. CHA’s runs came on a Josh Phegley RBI single in the first, a two-run home run by Seth Loman in the second and a Lars Anderson single in the third. Phegley went 8-for-16 in the series with five runs scored, 2 2b, 2hr and 7rbi. C Corky Miller accounted for LOU’s only two runs in the top of the second with a two-run single to score OF Josh Fellhauer and IF Kristopher Negron. Miller and Negron both finished 2-for-4. IF Emmanuel Burriss notched his second three-hit game of the series and now has a modest four-game hitting streak. RHP Kevin Whelan and RHP Nick Christiani tossed scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth, respectively, in relief of Galarraga. LOU dropped to 3-17 when their opponent scores first and 14-3 when outhitting their opponent.

• WE’RE GOING STREAKING: IF Emmanuel Burriss now has the longest active hitting streak for LOU at four games (8-for-17, .471). Last night, OF Felix Perez (0-for-3) and OF Denis Phipps (0-for-4) each saw their hitting streaks come to an end. Perez was 15-for-37 (.405) during his team season-high nine-game streak and Phipps went 9-for-28 (.321) in his seven-game streak. OF Billy Hamilton’s eight-game streak was snapped Thursday night as he went 0-for-4. Hamilton went 16-for-40 (.400) during his streak. IF Henry Rodriguez’ seven-game streak (14-for-32, .438) and Soto’s second eight-game streak (13-for-37, .351) of the year were both ended Tuesday night as they each went 0-for-5. Monday night vs. BUF, IF Kristopher Negron’s personal season-best five-game streak (6-for-19, .316) came to an end as he was 0-for-1 after entering the game in the eighth inning. Last year, OF Joey Gathright had a team-high 10-game hitting streak from 5/24-6/4.

• MILLER UNCORKS: C Corky Miller went 2-for-4 with a double and 2rbi last night. He launched his second home run of the season Wednesday night and his 48th as a Bat. He is currently 5hr shy of passing Danny Dorn for third on the franchise’s all-time HR list. He is 60 games shy of holding the franchise record for games played, currently held by Bill Lyons. He needs just 38 hits (currently has 434) and six doubles (currently has 92) to become the franchise’s leader in those categories. Miller is appearing in a LOU uniform this year for the ninth different season, a franchise record.

• ON THE MOUND: RHP Greg Reynolds (3-0, 2.92) makes his ninth appearance (eighth start) for LOU and will be opposed by LHP Yohan Flande (1-3, 4.95) for GWN. His last time out on 5/13 vs. BUF, he took the no decision after allowing just 2er in 7.0ip (7h, 2bb, 6k). He has pitched through seven innings four times, tied for the longest outing by a LOU starter this year. LOU is 4-4 in his eight outings, but have won just one in his last five (5/8 at LHV, 7.0ip, 2er). Reynolds was the number two overall pick of the 2006 MLB Draft by Colorado. Reynolds holds a 5-8 record at the ML level with a 7.47era in 27g (16 starts).

• VS. THE G-BRAVES: LOU is 1-3 against GWN this year, having taken the first game of their April 23-26 series at Louisville Slugger Field before dropping the final three. The teams split their eight games in 2012, each taking three of four games at their home park. LOU is 17-18 against GWN since the Braves moved from Richmond, Va. to Lawrenceville, Ga. for the start of the 2009 season and 8-7 at Coolray Field. Since they first met in 1988, LOU is 94-89 against the Braves.

• LEATHER PENDING: LOU did not commit an error last night and has gone six straight games without an error, the team’s longest errorless streak of 2013. LOU has not committed an error since the third inning of 5/11 vs. BUF, a streak of 58 consecutive errorless innings. Still, the Bats have committed 39 errors and allowed 19uer this season. The team currently has a .975 fielding percentage, 12th in the IL. LOU’s 39 errors are seven fewer than GWN’s 46, the most in the IL. LOU is on pace to commit 133 errors this season, which would be the most since the 2007 Bats committed 137 errors.

• MAY FLOWERS: LOU is hitting .280 as a team, up from .215 in April. The team recorded 10+ hits in nine straight games from 5/7-5/15. LOU is 8-8 in May and is looking for their first month with a record above .500 since they went 16-7 in April 2011. Five of LOU’s 13 remaining games in the month are with below-.500 teams (GWN [.372] and TOL [.326]).

• FLYING FELIX: OF Felix Perez went 0-for-3 last night, but has hit safely in 15 of his last 18 games, including nine straight up until last night. He has recorded multiple hits in ten of his last 18 games and leads the team with his .308avg. He also leads the team with his 25rbi, 73 total bases and .878ops. He is tied with Denis Phipps for the team lead with 11 2b. Perez led LOU last year with his .301avg and had a career-high 35rbi in 116g (already has 22rbi in 39g in 2013).

• BILLY GOES HAM: OF Billy Hamilton did not steal a base last night for the fourth consecutive game. On Tuesday he snapped a streak of three straight games with a stolen base. Hamilton still leads the IL with 21 stolen bases on the season, three more than SYR’s Jeff Kobernus. Hamilton’s season high for consecutive games with a steal is five (4/17-4/21). His career high in consecutive games with a stolen base is 13 (5/22/12-6/4/12 w/BAK). Hamilton is coming off seasons where he stole 103 bases (Dayton, 2011) and 155 bases (Bakersfield and Pensacola, 2012). The latter set a new professional baseball single-season record that had been held by a former LOU Redbird, Vince Coleman, when he stole 145 bases with Macon in 1983. Baseball America rates Hamilton as the top prospect in the Reds organization for 2013 after rating him second in both 2011 and 2012.

• TRENDING: LOU designated hitters are 16-for-88 on the season (.182). Eight of the Bats’ 16 hits by a DH have come from Felix Perez… 22 of LOU’s 31hr have been solo HR… LOU catchers have caught just six of 52 would-be base stealers (.115). Last year, LOU catchers caught 54 of 159 runners (.340)… LOU starters have turned in 15 quality starts in 2013 and LOU is 9-6 in those games. In 2012, Bats starters had 55 quality starts and LOU went 28-27… LOU is 8-3 in day games, but just 12-19 in night games… LOU is 17-5 when scoring first and 3-17 when their opponent scores first.

• WE’RE GOING STREAKING: LOU currently has four players on 6-game hitting streaks or longer. OF Billy Hamilton and OF Felix Perez have hit safely in six straight games. IF Henry Rodriguez is on a 7-game hitting streak and IF Neftali Soto has hit safely in eight straight, matching his own 2013 LOU season-long (4/24-5/2). Over the course of their respective streaks, these players are hitting a combined .410 (50-122). Last night vs. BUF, IF Kristopher Negron’s personal season-long 5-game hitting streak came to an end as he was 0-for-1 after entering the game in the eighth inning to play left field. OF Denis Phipps went 1-for-3 last night to bring his 2013 personal best hitting streak to four games.

• BILLY GOES HAM: OF Billy Hamilton had two steals last night, bringing his IL-leading total to 21 on the season, six more than SYR’s Jeff Kobernus. It was Hamilton’s third straight game with a SB after a season-high six straight games without a stolen base (5/4 to 5/10). The SB draught was his longest since going 6g without a steal in 2011 (7/29-8/3) w/Dayton. Hamilton’s longest career stolen base draught was 13g from 7-25-09 to 8-11-09 in his first pro season w/ the GCL Reds. Hamilton is coming off seasons where he stole 103 bases (Dayton, 2011) and 155 bases (Bakersfield and Pensacola, 2012). The latter set a new professional baseball single-season record that had been held by a former LOU Redbird, Vince Coleman, when he stole 145 bases with Macon in 1983. Baseball America rates Hamilton as the top prospect in the Reds organization for 2013 after rating him second in both 2011 and 2012.

• ON THE MOUND: RHP Pedro Villarreal (1-2, 2.96) makes his eighth start for LOU and will be opposed by CHA RHP Andre Rienzo (2-2, 8.72). Villarreal made four consecutive quality starts to begin the 2013 campaign, but allowed 6er in 2.2ip (4/28 vs. LHV) and 4er in 5.0ip (5/4 at BUF) in his next two outings. Last time out, Villarreal bounced back, tossing six scoreless, three-hit innings to earn his first win of the season 5/9 at LHV. He’s walked just 6 batters in 38.2ip this season, but has allowed 7hr, the highest total on the staff by two and tied for the most in the IL. In his only other career start vs. CHA on 8/3/12, he allowed 2er in 6.0ip and suffered the loss despite allowing just 3h and 1bb with his 4k. The righthander made his Major League debut with the Reds in 2012, pitching a perfect ninth inning 9/5/12 vs. PHI in a 6-2 loss. In that appearance, Villarreal threw 9 of 11 pitches for strikes and struck out the first batter he faced (Dominic Brown).

• MAY FLOWERS: LOU is 6-6 in May and is hitting .279 as a team, up from .215 in April. LOU is looking for their first month with a record above .500 since they went 16-7 in April 2011.

• VS. THE KNIGHTS: LOU and CHA meet for the first of four games in Fort Mill and first of eight games in 2013. In 2012, the Bats were 2-6 vs. the Knights and 0-4 at Knights Stadium. LOU hasn’t won at Knights Stadium since a 12-inning 4-2 win 7/16/11 and hasn’t won a series at CHA since taking three of four 7/19/10 to 7/22/10. LOU is 88-72 vs. CHA since the teams first met in 1998 and 43-37 in Fort Mill. The teams will meet again for a four-game series at Louisville Slugger Field 6/25-6/28.

• TRENDING: LOU designated hitters are 12-for-71 on the season (.169) and their only two RBI have come from Felix Perez. One came Saturday 5/11 vs. BUF on Perez’ run-scoring single in the 7th inning and the other on his walk-off solo HR on Opening Night, 4/4 vs. TOL. In fact, seven of the Bats’ 12 hits by a DH this season have come from Perez… 20 of LOU’s 28hr have been solo HR… LOU catchers have caught just six of 47 would-be base stealers (.128)… LOU starters have turned in 15 quality starts in 2013 and LOU is 9-6 in those games. In 2012, Bats starters had 55 quality starts and LOU went 28-27… On his current 7-game hitting streak, Henry Rodriguez is hitting .438 (14-32) with 3 2b and 8rbi. His avg. has increased from .223 at the start of the streak to .271 following Monday’s game.

• FLYING FELIX: OF Felix Perez went 1-for-5 with a stolen base last night and has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games, including a streak of five straight (recorded multiple hits in eight of those games), and leads the team with his .300avg. He also leads the team with his 22rbi, .888 OPS and 64 total bases and is tied for the team lead w/ 9 2b. He has recorded an RBI in ten of his last 15 games. Perez led LOU last year with his .301avg and had a career-high 35rbi in 116g (already has 22rbi in 36g in 2013). 5/4 at BUF, he recorded his third outfield assist of the season, throwing out BUF’s Eugenio Velez at home plate. In 2012, he had 16 outfield assists, second in the IL.

• OFFENSIVE DEFENSE: LOU did not commit an error last night and has gone two straight games without an error, matching LOU’s longest errorless streak of 2013 (4/17-4/18 and 4/22-4/23). The Bats have committed 39 errors this season and allowed 19uer. The team currently has a .973 fielding percentage. LOU’s 39 errors are just five behind GWN (44) for the most in the IL. LOU is on pace to commit 148 errors this season, which would be sixth-most in franchise history (the 1983 Redbirds committed a franchise-high 170 errors and allowed 90uer). Last year, LOU committed 114 errors and allowed 59uer.

• SEE BILLY TROT: OF Billy Hamilton recorded his first career multi-home run game Friday with two solo shots off BUF RHP Dave Bush. His first home run led off the game and was his second career lead-off home run, the last coming w/Dayton on 7/22/11 vs. Peoria in a 2-0 Dragons win. Hamilton hit just two home runs all of last year and his career high is 3hr in 2011 w/DAY. He now has nine professional HR (5 of which that have not been inside-the-park home runs), 382 behind teammate IF Mike Hessman.

• TRANSACTIONS: Yesterday, C Corky Miller was outrighted to LOU after being designated for assignment by CIN on 5/10. Miller hit .125 in 6g w/CIN and scored a pair of runs while filling in for the injured C Ryan Hanigan. Also yesterday, C Konrad Schmidt was placed on the 7-day DL (lower back strain, retro to 5/12). Schmidt was hitting .162 in 23g and had a catcher’s ERA of 3.50.

Entrance of Coca-Cola Park (Courtesy: theballparkguide.com)

Capacity: 10,100

Opened: March 30, 2008 (The Phillies beat the IronPigs 5-3 in an exhibition game)

First Home Win: 3-1 vs. Richmond April 14, 2008

 The Bats are in the midst of a four-game set in Allentown, PA this week as they take on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.  Allentown became home for the franchise for the 2008 season, as did Coca-Cola Park (not to be confused with Buffalo’s Coca-Cola Field).  The stadium opened its doors for the ’08 season and still sports that “new-park smell.”  Modeled after Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, groundbreaking for Coca-Cola Park took place in September 2006.

The ballpark is the smallest in the International League with 8,200 seats.  With the berm beyond the left-center field wall, the park holds just over 10,000 people.  A scoreboard with a 20’ by 50’ hi-def video board provides the berm’s backdrop and the trademark Coca-Cola bottle atop the board gives the park perhaps its most distinguishing feature.  Fireworks fly from the oversized bottle with every IronPig run that crosses the plate.

View from the "Tiki Terrace" (Courtesy: theballparkguide.com)

 Other features include a Tiki Terrace in left field where fans can enjoy food and drinks and where right-handed sluggers (like the Bats’ Mike Hessman) can deposit long balls.  Out in right field, there’s the Bud Light Trough where fans can gather and watch the game. Another feature, located on the concourse, is a wall of Lehigh Valley alumni that have gone on to become Major Leaguers, a space reserved for “Pigs to the Bigs.”  Fans have flocked to Coca-Cola Park since its 2008 opening and the Pigs have boasted the highest attendance in the minor leagues the last three seasons with 688,821 turning out in 2012.

"Pigs to the Bigs" (Courtesy: theballparkguide.com)

The field’s dimensions closely match those of the Phillies’ home field with a distance of 334 feet to left, 400 feet to center and 325 to right.  After a loss to open this year’s trip there, Louisville is 11-10 all-time at Coca-Cola Park.  In all, the IronPigs are 190-184 all-time at Coca-Cola Field.

The view from right field. (Courtesy: theballparkguide.com)

 For the record, Louisville allowed the IronPigs’ first ever grand slam at Coca-Cola Park as Lehigh Valley’s Andy Tracy launched one off Louisville’s Ben Jukich in the fifth inning of a game August 13, 2009.  Also, the last time a Bats’ pitcher hit a home run was at Coca-Cola Park as Daryl Thompson hit one in Louisville’s 87, 13-inning loss June 11, 2011.

• GLAD HE’S ON OUR SIDE: After a solo homer Sunday, his second of the BUF series (Friday, 5/3), IF Mike Hessman is T-2nd in the IL with 7hr. Six of his seven HR have been with the bases empty. Friday’s HR was Hessman’s first since 4/9 vs. COL, breaking a string of 60 at-bats without a long ball. He hit two home runs in each of his first two games w/LOU, becoming the first player in franchise history to hit multiple home runs in the first two games of the season. Hessman has hit 226hr in the IL, 32hr shy of Ollie Carnegie’s all-time mark set w/BUF from 1931-1945. He is MiLB’s active career leader in professional home runs with 391 (371 in minors, 14 in MLB and 6 in Japan).

• ON THE MOUND: RHP Armando Galarraga (1-1, 1.80) makes his sixth start of 2013 and will be opposed by RHP B.J. Rosenberg (0-3, 5.11) for LHV. Galarraga is making his third start since coming off the DL on 4/25 (blister). His last time out on 5/2 at BUF, he allowed a run on 3 hits in 0.2ip. Galarraga left the game in the 1st inning after taking a hard-hit ball from the bat of Luis Jimenez off his right foot. His longest outing of 2013 was a 5.2 inning performance as he took the loss 4/10 vs. COL allowing 2er. Galarraga picked up the win in his Bats debut on 4/5 vs. TOL, going 5.0ip and allowing 2r (1er) on 5h with 3bb and 6k. Galarraga went 3-2 with a 4.12 era in 9 starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2012. He also saw 5 starts in the Majors w/HOU, going 0-4 with a 6.75era. Rosenberg is a University of Louisville (’04-’08) and Meade Co. HS product. Rosenberg made 47 starts as a Cardinal, ranking 2nd on UofL’s all-time list and was a 3rd Team All-Big East selection in 2008.

• VS. THE PIGS: LHV took the first game of the four-game set from LOU Monday night. LOU and LHV split the first four games of their season series 4/27-4/30 at Louisville Slugger Field and the teams are meeting for the last four games of their season series at Coca-Cola Park. LOU went 3-5 against LHV in 2012 and 2-2 at LHV. LOU is 26-19 against the IronPigs since they moved to Lehigh Valley from Ottawa for the 2008 season and 11-10 at Coca-Cola Park. LOU is 62-63 vs. the LHV/OTT franchise since they began play in 1998.

• FLYING FELIX: After his 2-for-4 night with a 2b and rbi Monday, OF Felix Perez has recorded multiple hits in five of his last seven games (including his last 2) and leads the team with his .294avg. He also leads the team with his 9 2b and 16rbi. Perez led LOU last year with his .301avg. Saturday, he recorded his third outfield assist of the season, throwing out BUF’s Eugenio Velez at home plate. In 2012, he had 16 outfield assists, second in the IL.

• SLUMPING SOTO: IF Neftali Soto notched a hit in the first inning Monday night, breaking a streak of 15 at-bats without a hit. The hit was Soto’s first since recording a base hit in the third inning 5/2 at BUF, the final game of his LOU season-high 8-game hitting streak. The slugger is now 1-for-his-last-19. He was 13-for-29 (.448) during the 8-game hitting streak. His season average reached as high as .318 following 4/30 vs. LHV, but has since dipped to .264.

• BILLY GOES HAM: OF Billy Hamilton did not steal a base last night, his third straight game without one. His 17sb are still tops in the IL by four over SYR’s Jeff Kobernus. Hamilton stole at least one base in five consecutive games from 4/17-4/21. His career high in consecutive games with a stolen base is 13 (5/22/12-6/4/12 w/BAK). Hamilton is coming off seasons where he stole 103 bases (Dayton, 2011) and 155 bases (Bakersfield and Pensacola, 2012). The latter set a new professional baseball single-season record that had been held by a former LOU Redbird, Vince Coleman, when he stole 145 bases with Macon in 1983. Baseball America rates Hamilton as the top prospect in the Reds organization for 2013 after rating him second in both 2011 and 2012.

• BURGLAR BATS: LOU did not steal any bases Monday, but have stolen at least one base in 14 of their last 19 games, including a string of seven straight games between 4/17 at COL and 4/23 vs. GWN. Included in the 7-game stretch was a 6sb game (4/21 at IND, 3sb by Emmanuel Burriss, 2sb by Billy Hamilton, 1sb by Denis Phipps), six of Hamilton’s IL-leading 17sb and 1sb by RHP Pedro Villarreal (the first of his career). LOU is T-3rd in the IL with LHV with 34sb behind IND (41) and DUR (39) and is currently on pace for 158sb, which would be the most since the 1999 RiverBats swiped 168sb (the 1998 Redbirds hold the franchise record with 190sb).

• JUMBO’S JURISDICTION: Reliever Jose Diaz tossed a scoreless eighth inning Monday night. He has allowed 0r and just 5h and 7bb in 10.0ip (8g) since joining LOU on 4/15. He has 9k and batters are hitting just .139 against him.

• TRENDING: LOU designated hitters are 7-for-56 on the season (.125) and their only RBI came on Felix Perez’ walk-off solo HR on Opening Night, 4/4 vs. TOL… 15 of LOU’s 21hr have been solo HR… Following last night’s loss, LOU is now 12-4 when scoring first and 2-15 when being outhit… Prior to Friday night’s loss, LOU tied a season-high winning streak by taking three straight (4/29-5/1) following a five-game losing streak (4/24-4/28). The losing streak was the first time the Bats had lost five straight in 2013… LOU defense has committed 33 errors and is T-13th (GWN) in the IL with a .971 fielding percentage… LOU catchers have caught just five of 42 would-be base stealers (.119) and allowed two stolen bases in two attempts last night… LOU starters have turned in 11 quality starts in 2013 and LOU is 6-5 in those games. In 2012, Bats starters had 55 quality starts and LOU went 28-27.

• APRIL SHOWERS: LOU went 12-14 in April and recorded their 12th straight month (including Septembers) of not having a winning record. They have finished a month with a .500 record three times since their last winning month in April 2011 (16-7). Not including the short September months, LOU’s 10-month streak of non-winning records ties a franchise record set from June 2004 to May 2006.

Tony Cingrani. (Reds photo via Andy Lyons/Getty Images, Bats photo via Pat Pfister/Pfoto.com)

He stands at a noticeable 6’4″, but he is also noticeably soft-spoken.

He didn’t say much, but made sure to politely introduce himself to by-standers at the Louisville Bats’ picture day ahead of the start of the 2013 season. As it turns out, his play has said plenty. While he may lack an energetic and extroverted front, there has been nothing quiet or dull about the way Tony Cingrani has started this season.

Unsurprisingly, Cingrani was a man of few words with a small gathering of media following his eye-opening Triple-A debut in which he struck out the first seven batters he faced and totaled 14 punch-outs in his six no-hit innings. The outing even warranted a call from national media, another task that resulted in short, quiet, but measured responses from the young prospect.

MLB.com’s organizational prospect rankings, found here, project the now-former Louisville starter as an “average” Major League starter. Behind Bats center fielder Billy Hamilton and pitcher Robert Stephenson, who started this season with Cincinnati’s Class-A affiliate Dayton Dragons, Cingrani sits third in the Reds’ top 20 prospects breakdown.

For those who are privy to Cingrani’s work so far in 2013, he’s been anything but average in his six combined starts between Louisville and Cincinnati. While in Louisville, he started three games, threw 14.1 innings, struck out 26 batters, and didn’t allow a single run. For the record, he only walked two and only gave up three hits over that period.

It wasn’t a surprise when the Reds called for the then-Bats lefty on April 18 after Johnny Cueto went to the disabled list due to a strained right lat muscle. While he still has his rookie eligibility, Cingrani isn’t a complete stranger to baseball’s top echelon. In 2012, he got a taste of life as a big-leaguer when he was a late call-up once rosters expanded in September. He appeared in three games with the Reds and only allowed one run while striking out nine in five innings of work.

As the injured Johnny Cueto nears his return with a rehab assignment anticipated to begin in early May, Cingrani certainly doesn’t look like he’s ready to go anywhere.

This season, the Chicago-area native has shined under the bright lights of the bigs. Over four starts, Cingrani is 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA. He has been the same pitcher in Cincinnati that he was in the River City. In his 24 innings of work, he’s struck out 33 and walked five, a ratio that ranks sixth amongst starting pitchers in Major League Baseball heading into play on May 6.

In Louisville, Bats manager Jim Riggleman certainly wouldn’t mind seeing Cingrani in his rotation again at some point this season. Though it was a pleasure to watch the fast-working youngster pitch at Louisville Slugger Field, Reds fans in the Commonwealth have been equally content watching the quiet big man make plenty of noise just an hour and a half up I-71.

Their next opportunity to do so will come on Friday night when Cingrani takes the mound at Great American Ball Park against the Milwaukee Brewers.

• LAST NIGHT: Scheduled LOU starter RHP Daniel Corcino allowed 7er in 2.1ip to and suffered his fourth straight loss to start the season as GWN toppled the Bats, 7-3. Corcino came in after a scoreless inning from the rehabbing LHP Sean Marshall to start the game. He allowed 4er in the second inning, the big blow coming in the form of a three-run triple by C Matt Pagnozzi. Corcino was removed in the fourth after a two-run home run by GWN CF Todd Cunningham. For GWN, RHP Omar Poveda went 7.2ip and allowed just 1er on 4h and 2bb with 4k to pick up the win and move his record to 2-0. RHP Cory Rasmus recorded the final out in the ninth for his third save after RHP Roman Colon ran into trouble. For LOU, IF Emmanuel Burriss recorded his first multi-hit game and C Nevin Ashley recorded his first two RBI of the season. Following Corcino’s exit, five pitchers from the LOU pen (Mike MacDougal, Jose Arredondo, Kevin Whelan, Clay Hensley and Nick Christiani) combined to toss 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just 1h and 1bb. With the loss, LOU is now 0-9 when their opponents score first.

• BURGLAR BATS: LOU did not steal a base last night, breaking a string of seven straight games in which they had done so since last not stealing a base 4/15 at COL. Included in the stretch was a 6sb game (4/21 at IND, 3sb by Emmanuel Burriss, 2sb by Billy Hamilton, 1sb by Denis Phipps), six of Hamilton’s IL-leading 13sb and 1sb by RHP Pedro Villarreal (the first of his career).

• VS. THE BRAVES: LOU and GWN have split the first two games of the sereis at Louisville Slugger Field. The teams will play four games and then finish their season series 5/18-21 at GWN. The teams split their eight games in 2012, each taking three of four games at their home park. LOU is 17-16 against GWN since the Braves moved from Richmond, Va. to Lawrenceville, Ga. for the start of the 2009 season. Since they first met in 1988, LOU is 94-87 against the Braves.

• FEROCIOUS FELIX: OF Felix Perez went 1-for-4 last night and has recorded at least one hit in 14 of his 18 games this season. He leads the team with a .297avg. In the four games from 4/15 at COL to 4/20 vs. IND, Perez hit .533 (8-for-15) with 2hr and 7rbi. Included in the stretch were a career-high 4rbi 4/17 at COL and his second walk-off HR of the season 4/18 vs. IND.

• ON THE MOUND: RHP Chad Reineke (2-0, 1.00) makes his second start and fifth appearance of 2013 and will be opposed by LHP Daniel Rodriguez (1-1, 8.76) for GWN. With a win tonight, he would have the first 4-0 start of his career, his only other 3-0 start coming in 2011 w/LOU. Reineke is transitioning from starter to reliever this season, but gets his second start of the season today in what was LHP Tony Cingrani’s spot. His last time out on 4/20 vs. IND, he earned his third win, going 5.2ip, scattering 5h and 2bb with 5k on a season-high 99 pitches. Reineke has allowed just 1er in 14.2ip this season and has a 1.02 WHIP. In 2012, Reineke started 26 of 27 games in which he pitched for LOU, going 5-11 with a 4.57era. Reineke is 2-2 with a 5.76era at the Major League level, including time with the Padres, A’s and Reds.

• TRENDING: Tonight, LOU will try to avoid falling below .500 for the first time this year… LOU is tied for the IL lead w/DUR and IND with 26 stolen bases and is currently on pace for 187sb, which would be the most since the 1988 Redbirds swiped a franchise record 190sb. LOU pitchers are second in the IL with their 2.90era, behind TOL at 2.81, and fourth with their 170k… LOU pitchers had a streak of 28.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run snapped in the eighth inning of Monday’s game at IND, but LOU was just 1-3 in the games which the streak spanned. (LOU pitchers had not allowed an earned run since there were two outs in the in the fifth inning 4/19 vs. IND.)… RHP Greg Reynolds has not walked a hitter in 18.1ip… LOU is last in the IL in team batting average at .208, percentage points behind 13th-place TOL… LOU defense has committed 21 errors in the first 20g of the season and is 12th in the IL with a .972 fielding percentage… LOU catchers have caught just three of 26 would-be base stealers (.115) and allowed 1sb in one attempt last night… LOU is 10-1 when scoring first and have not won a game when their opponent has scored first (0-9)… LOU starters have turned in 7 quality starts in the first 20g of 2013 and LOU is 5-2 in those games. In 2012, Bats starters had 55 quality starts and LOU went 28-27… LOU designated hitters are 5-for-44 on the season (.114) and their only RBI came on Felix Perez’ walk-off solo HR on Opening Night, 4/4 vs. TOL… IF Mike Hessman has not homered since 4/9 vs. COL, but is in a three-way tie for fourth in the IL with 5hr.

• BILLY GOES HAM: OF Billy Hamilton did not steal any bases last night, his third straight game without a SB since stealing at least one in five consecutive games from 4/17-4/21. His 13sb are tops in the IL by five over IND’s Darren Ford. Hamilton is coming off seasons where he stole 103 bases (Dayton, 2011) and 155 bases (Bakersfield and Pensacola, 2012). The latter set a new professional baseball single-season record that had been held by a former LOU Redbird, Vince Coleman, when he stole 145 bases with Macon in 1983. Baseball America rates Hamilton as the top prospect in the Reds organization for 2013 after rating him second in both 2011 and 2012.

• WALK IT OFF: On 4/23 vs. GWN, LOU took the win after an RBI single by C Konrad Schmidt was overran in the outfield allowing a second run (albeit unearned and not counting towards Schmidt’s RBI total) to score and take the game vs. GWN, 3-2. The Bats now have three walk-off wins in 2013: two solo HR by OF Felix Perez and the single-plus-error off the bat of Schmidt. Perez hit a shot off the right field foul pole Opening Night 4/4 vs. TOL to give LOU a 4-3 win. On 4/18 vs. IND, Perez hit a blast to right center in the 10th inning to lift the Bats to a 5-4 win. Perez now has three career walk-off home runs.

• TRANSACTIONS: Today, RHP Mark Prior was placed on the 7-day DL with a right shoulder strain and RHP Armando Galarraga was activated from the 7-day DL. In 7g w/LOU, Prior recorded a 4.66era in 9.2ip, allowing 5er on 9h and 4bb with 9k. Galarraga is slated to start Friday 4/26 vs. GWN, making his first appearance since he left the game 4/15 at COL in the fourth inning with a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand. He is 1-1 with a 1.88era. Yesterday, RHP Justin Freeman was placed on the 7-day DL and RHP Curtis Partch was transferred from Pensacola. Freeman has a 1.29era and one save in six appearances with the Bats. He also made his ML debut w/CIN on 4/17 vs. PHI (1.0ip, 2h, 2er). Partch appeared in 8g w/PEN and notched 4sv (2.16era, 8.1ip, 6h, 2r-2er, 2bb-14k). Monday, the Reds sent LHP Sean Marshall to LOU on a ML rehab assignment. Marshall went on the 15-day DL 4/10 (retro to 4/8) with left shoulder tendinitis. Marshall’s only appearance of 2013 was a perfect inning of relief in the Reds 6-3 win 4/7 vs. WAS.

• YESTERDAY: RHP Chad Reineke went 5.2 scoreless innings to earn his third win in his first start for LOU. He is now 3-0 and allowed 5h and 2bb with 5k in the outing. An RBI single by OF Billy Hamilton to score Josh Fellhauer in the bottom of the third got the Bats on the board and Felix Perez followed with a two-run double off the wall in right to score Konrad Schmidt and Hamilton and give LOU a 3-0 lead and round out the Bats’ scoring. RHP Kevin Whelan converted his third save of the season and RHP Brandon Cumpton (6.0ip, 5h, 3er, 1bb-8k) suffered the loss for IND. The win means LOU is now 9-0 when they score first and 0-7 when their opponent scores first.

• BILLY GOES HAM: OF Billy Hamilton stole one base Saturday 4/20 vs. IND, giving him stolen bases in four consecutive games for the first time in 2013. His 11sb are tops in the IL by four over Quintin Berry of TOL. Hamilton is coming off seasons where he stole 103 bases (Dayton, 2011) and 155 bases (Bakersfield and Pensacola, 2012). The latter set a new professional baseball single-season record that had been held by a former Louisville Redbird, Vince Coleman, when he stole 145 bases with Macon in 1983. Baseball America rates Hamilton as the top prospect in the Reds organization for 2013 after rating him second in both 2011 and 2012.

• FEROCIOUS FELIX: In his last four games dating back to 4/15 at COL, OF Felix Perez is hitting .533 (8-for-15) with 2hr and 7rbi. Included in the stretch are a career-high 4rbi 4/17 at COL and his second walk-off HR of the season (4/18 vs. IND). LOU is 3-1 in the four games (Perez was out of the lineup 4/19 vs. IND).

• VS. THE TRIBE: This series features LOU and IND getting together for the first five of 22 meetings in 2013. LOU leads the 2013 series 2-1, the first three games coming at Louisville Slugger Field. In 2012, LOU was 4-18 vs. IND and 1-10 at Victory Field. The Bats dropped the last 5 meetings between the two in 2012 (from 8/22 to 9-3) and lost 11 of the last 12 meetings. LOU is 303-326 against IND since 1988 (165-152 in Louisville and 58-63 at LSF).

• ON THE MOUND: RHP Yohan Pino makes his LOU debut and will be opposed by RHP Gerrit Cole (0-1, 6.00) for IND. Pino has tossed 11 scoreless innings for PEN, across four outings (one start), allowing only 3h and 0bb and striking out 11. Among Southern League relievers, he still has the best average against (1-for-22, .045) and baserunners per nine innings ratio (1.29). He is tied for the Southern League lead in walks per nine innings (0.0). Pino has a 14-13 career Triple-A record with a 5.51era. His previous Triple-A experience came in the Minnesota, Cleveland and Toronto organizations. He made his first Triple-A appearance in 2009.

• DOT, DOT, DOT: LOU pitchers are second in the IL with their 2.73era and third with their 146k… LOU is last in the IL in team batting average at .205, two percentage points behind 13th-place TOL… LOU defense has committed 19 errors in the first 16g of the season and is 12th in the IL with a .968 fielding percentage… LOU catchers have caught just two of 20 would-be base stealers (.100) and allowed 2sb in two chances yesterday… LOU has scored first in all 9 of their wins in 2013 and their opponents have scored first and outhit LOU in all 7 of their losses… Bats starters have turned in 6 quality starts in the first 16g of 2013 and LOU is 4-2 in those games. In 2012, Bats starters had 55 quality starts and LOU went 28-27… LOU designated hitters are 5-for-44 on the season (.114) and their only RBI came on Felix Perez’ walk-off solo HR on Opening Night, 4/4 vs. TOL… IF Mike Hessman has not homered since 4/9 vs. COL, but is still tied for third in the IL with 5hr.

The right-field patio deck at Louisville Slugger Field. (photo: Michael Stewart)

Welcome to Opening Night and another season of Louisville Bats Baseball at the corner of Preston and Main. Here’s some notes on tonight’s game to get your baseball juices flowing for the opening of our 14th season at Louisville Slugger Field.

• OPENING DAY: The Louisville Bats open the 2013 season with the IL West Division rival Toledo Mud Hens. The game marks the sixth time that LOU has opened against TOL since the teams began playing each other in 1988 as members of the American Association. LOU is 3-2 in Opening Day games against TOL and 2-1 at Louisville Slugger Field, the most recent being an 11-6 loss on 4/7/11. Since baseball returned to Louisville in 1982, LOU is 14-17 on opening day and 10-10 at home (4-2 at LSF). LOU has not won an Opening Day home game since defeating TOL 5-4 on 4/5/07.
• FAMILY MATTERS: On January 24, the Bats and Cincinnati Reds extended their current player development contract two years. It was earlier set to end following the 2014 season and will now run through 2016.
• VS. THE MUD DUCKS: The Bats went 7-14 against TOL and 3-8 vs. the Mud Hens at Louisville Slugger Field in 2012. TOL defeated LOU in nine straight contests from 4/10/12 through 7/7/12. LOU is 160-123 against TOL since 1988 and 65-51 at LSF.
• RIGGLEMAN RETURNS: Former ML manager Jim Riggleman will manage the Bats in 2013. Riggleman is the third Bats manager in as many years following Rick Sweet (2005-2011) and David Bell (2012). This will be his third stint in Louisville. He served as a coach with the Louisville Redbirds in 1982 and also spent time in Louisville during the 1988 season as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals’ player development staff. Ted Power returns for his eighth straight season as LOU’s pitching coach and Tony Jaramillo makes the move with Riggleman from Pensacola to become the third Bats hitting coach in as many years following Smokey Garrett (2003-2011) and Ryan Jackson (2012).
• FOLLOW THE LEADER: Eight players who played under Riggleman in Pensacola last year are on the Bats’ Opening Night roster: Tony Cingrani (16 games), Daniel Corcino (26g), Wilkin De La Rosa (46g), Josh Fellhauer (117g),  Justin Freeman (57g), Billy Hamilton (50g), Henry Rodriguez (33g) and Pedro Villarreal (6g).
• BACK TO THE VILLE: Nine players on the Bats’ Opening Night roster saw action in Louisville in 2012. RHP Pedro Villarreal, IF/OF Kristopher Negron, IF Henry Rodriguez and OF Denis Phipps return to the Bats after also making their Major League debuts with the Reds last year. Also returning are RHP Nick Christiani, RHP Chad Reineke, C Corky Miller, IF Neftali Soto and OF Felix Perez.
• CORKY: C Corky Miller will put on a Bats uniform for the ninth different season, a franchise record, and enters the 2013 campaign 70 games shy of tying the franchise record for games played held by Bill Lyons. He needs just 45 hits (currently has 427) and eight doubles (currently has 90) to become the franchise’s leader in those categories.
• BILLY GOES HAM: OF Billy Hamilton is coming off seasons where he stole 103 bases (Dayton, 2011) and 155 bases (Bakersfield and Pensacola, 2012). The latter set a new professional baseball single-season record that had been held by a former Louisville Redbird, Vince Coleman, when he stole 145 bases with Macon in 1983. Baseball America rates Hamilton as the top prospect in the Reds organization for 2013 after rating him second in both 2011 and 2012. He will be making his Triple-A debut when he first appears in a game with LOU.
• GLAD HE’S ON OUR SIDE: Former Toledo Mud Hen and now Bat IF Mike Hessman is MiLB’s active career leader in home runs with 384. He hit 31 career home runs as an opponent of LOU, 24 as a Mud Hen and 12 at Louisville Slugger Field (10 with TOL, one each with RIC and BUF). He hit multiple home runs in a game four times against LOU, one of them a three-home-run effort on 4/20/08 while with TOL.
• BOUNCING BACK: RHP Mark Prior, former No. 2 overall draft pick by the Cubs in 2001, signed a minor-league deal with CIN this offseason and will start with LOU. A 2003 NL All-Star, Prior has fought a bevy of injuries during his career and has not appeared in a ML game since 8/10/2006.
• ON THE MOUND: LHP Tony Cingrani (5-3, 2.12 w/ PEN in 2012) earns the Opening Night start for LOU and will be opposed by Toledo’s RHP Shawn Hill (9-2, 4.52 w/ Las Vegas in 2012). Cingrani will be making his Triple-A debut after starting 10g for Class A Bakersfield, 16g for Double-A Pensacola and making three appearances (including his ML debut) with the Cincinnati Reds in 2012. He was the Reds’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2012, going a combined 8-4 with a 1.73era in 26 minor league games. His 1.73 minor league ERA was the lowest among qualifying pitchers in 2012.
• WE STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM: At 51-93, LOU finished 38.0 GB in the IL West and 42 games under .500. The 38.0 GB in the division and 42 games under were both all-time franchise highs. With 93 losses, the Bats also set a franchise high for losses in a season. The 1991 Redbirds set the previous high for GB, losses and games under .500 when they finished the season 30 GB in the American Association Eastern Division at 51-92 (41 games under). The 2012 season was their first losing season since 2005 when they went 66-78 and finished last in the IL West. LOU lost 13 of their final 14 games in 2012. Prior to 2012, LOU had secured six consecutive winning seasons.
• MONTHLY WOES: They have not had a winning calendar month since April 2011 when they were 16-7. They finished with a .500 record in each of May, June and September of 2011 and finished every month of 2012 under .500.
• ATTENDANCE: Louisville finished the 2012 season sixth in all of Minor League baseball with 8,143 fans per game. The Bats have averaged 9,040 fans since Louisville Slugger Field’s opening in 2000 and have totaled over 8.2 million attendees through 13 seasons.

Corky Miller

The Cincinnati Reds have made a few moves over the past week to give us a hint of what the Louisville Bats‘ 2013 Opening Night roster will look like.

Last Tuesday, the Reds optioned star pitching prospects Tony Cingrani and Daniel Corcino to Louisville’s roster. Cingrani split most of last year between High A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola before pitching in three games for the Reds in September. Corcino spent all of last year with Pensacola and started 26 games. Cingrani and Corcino are rated by Baseball America as the Reds’ third- and fourth-best prospects, respectively.

 They also reassigned RHP Nick Christiani, RHP Chad Rogers, C Nevin Ashley, IF/OF Kristopher Negron and OF Ryan LaMarre to minor league camp. Christiani (87 games) and Negron (197 games), of course, have spent significant time with the Bats the past two years. Negron made his Major League debut last year, but is not currently on the 40-man roster. Ashley is one in a bevy of possible catchers on Louisville’s roster along with veteran Corky Miller, Miguel Olivo, Devin Mesoraco or prospect Tucker Barnhart. LaMarre hopes to join the Bats outfield, but with Denis Phipps and Felix Perez likely returning and Billy Hamilton on the way, a spot for him is not yet secure.

Saturday, the Reds made another large group of options, sending RHP Curtis Partch, IF Henry Rodriguez, 1B Neftali Soto and RHP Pedro Villarreal to the Louisville roster. Partch spent most of last season in Pensacola. Soto spent all of 2012 with the Bats and played in 122 games. Rodriguez saw time last year in Pensacola and Louisville, as well as 12 games (and his Major League debut) with the Reds. Villarreal made 20 starts with Louisville and a relief appearance in his Major League debut in Cincinnati.

On Tuesday of this week, the Reds officially reassigned Billy Hamilton and RHP Drew Hayes to minor league camp. In January, it was announced that the speedster Hamilton would start the season with the Bats after splitting last year between Bakersfield and Pensacola. Hayes spent all of last year with Pensacola and appeared in 56 games.

Miller, Olivo and Phipps still remain in the Reds’ big league camp for the time being. Pitchers Wilkin De La Rosa, Armando Galarraga, Clay Hensley–infielders Emmanuel Burriss and Caesar Izturis–and outfielder Derrick Robinson all also remain in Reds camp as non-roster invitees with the potential of joining the Bats.

The Reds should finalize the Bats’ Opening Night roster by April 1. Stay tuned to batsbaseball.com and the Bats’ Twitter account for all of the details.

(Photo: AP)

The 2013 Louisville Bats roster is becoming clearer as the season approaches.  We found out last month that lightning fast, base-stealing sensation Billy Hamilton would be on the Bats’ Opening Day roster.  Tuesday afternoon, we learned a couple other names that we’ll see at Louisville Slugger Field.

Tony Cingrani. (Photo: Examiner.com)

Lefty starting pitcher Tony Cingrani, rated the #3 prospect in the Reds’ system by Baseball America, was optioned to Louisville Tuesday. In three appearances for the Reds this spring, the left-hander (0-1, 9.00 ERA in 4 innings) has allowed 4 runs on 5 hits with a walk and 5 strikeouts.  The Evergreen, Illinois native did see some regular season action with the Reds last season.  Cingrani pitched in three games in the Majors (0-0, 1.80 ERA, 5IP), allowing 4 hits and 2 walks, while amassing an impressive 9 strikeouts.

Daniel Corcino (Photo: blogs.bettor.com)

Tuesday, the Reds also optioned righty starter Daniel Corcino to Louisville.  Corcino, rated the Reds’ #4 prospect by Baseball America, spent most of last season alongside Cingrani at Double-A Pensacola under new Bats manager Jim Riggleman.  Corcino has also seen action in three games this spring (1-0, 6.75 ERA, 4IP) allowing 3 runs on 3 hits with 5 walks and 2 strikeouts.

Nick Christiani (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

In other moves Tuesday, the Reds reassigned right-handed pitchers Nick Christiani and Chad Rogers as well as catcher Nevin Ashley, infielder Kristopher Negron, and outfielder Ryan LaMarre to minor league camp.  There’s a good chance all of these guys will see time at Louisville Slugger Field this season.

In five spring outings, Christiani (0-0, 4.76 ERA, 5.2 IP) is allowing opponents to hit just .190 off him.  In four games, Rogers (0-0, 5.06 ERA, 5.1 IP) has struck out 4 hitters while allowing just 1 walk.

Kristopher Negron (Photo: Getty Images)

Negron (.500 BA, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR)  has continued his hot spring.  The New Jersey-native is tied for the team lead in batting average and leads the squad in slugging percentage at 1.100.  Ashley, known for his defensive prowess, has put together a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 18 innings behind the plate.  LaMarre has shown some power with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored in 10 games this spring.

The season is nearly here and we’re learning more and more about who will take the field for the Bats in 2013.  Check back next week for another update on probable Louisville Bats in Reds Spring Training.