Slugger Field

What's this baseball with offense?

With the Reds in New York, famous cartoonist Jerry Dowling, and I went to watch Louisville play Columbus in a battle between Ohio farm clubs.

Wes Bankston hit two home runs off Zach Jackson, who made one start for the Indians this season. He had a chance to tie the franchise record but grounded out in his last two at bats.

Bankston saw a lot of action from the fifth inning on during spring games in Sarasota but he turns 34 on July 26.

While Justin Lehr, who will be 32 on August 3rd, handcuffed the future Indians with four hits. The Clippers managed to bunch three of them to score three times but Lehr used a nasty change up to limit the Central Ohio club.

Lehr lost his previous start to the Indianapolis Indians after winning six straight. His 8 1/3 inning performance put him in position to win his 12th game of the season. He allowed five hits and walked one.

But Pedro Viola allowed a three-run ninth inning home run to Matt LaPorta that tied the game.

Chris Valaika singled home pinch runner Luis Bolivar to give the Bats its 50th win of the season. Jared Burton pitched two innings of relief for the win.

Chris Heisey, who was recently promoted to Louisville, hit a home run completely out of Slugger Field on Friday, according to Columbus Dispatch reporter, Jim Massey. Massey covered the Reds for eight seasons before being reassigned to the Clipper's beat.

Heisey went to St. Louis to play in the Futures game.

When he was promoted from Carolina, Heisey was leading the Southen League with a .347 batting average. Since he ascended to Louisville, Heisey is hitting .365 in 14 games with three home runs and 13 RBI. His home run on Friday gave him long balls in consecutive games.