COLUMBUS – The Louisville Bats lived up to their franchise nickname with an offensive outburst that spoiled the Clippers’ 2017 home opener Thursday night.
The Bats banged out 15 hits on the way to an 11-4 win at Huntington Park in the first gamer of a four-game weekend series.
The floodgates opened in the top of the fourth inning as two walks and three singles surrendered by Columbus starter Adam Plutko (0-1) plated the three runs and increased the Bats’ lead to 5-0
Two run home runs by Bradley Zimmer and Richie Shaffer in the bottom of the sixth accounted for the Clippers’ scoring.
Plutko left the game after 3-2/3 innings after allowing six hits and four walks.
Jackson Stephens (1-0) got the win for Louisville.
Game two of the four-game slate is scheduled for Friday at 6:35 p.m.
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The Cleveland Indians activated outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall from the 10-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Tyler Naquin to Columbus.
Chisenhall sprained his right shoulder running into a wall during an exhibition game on March 24. He appeared in four minor league rehab games.
Chisenhall batted .286 with eight home runs and 57 RBIs in 126 games for the American League champions last season.
Naquin, who started in center field on opening day, batted .235 in six games. He hit .296 with 14 homers and 43 RBIs in 116 games last season.
The Indians chose to keep switch-hitting outfielder Abraham Almonte instead of Naquin, their first round draft pick in 2012. Almonte is batting .250 in eight games.