Three-Run Eighth Lifts Cards Over Cincinnati In Baseball
July 13, 2000 | Baseball
March 25, 2000
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Doss High School graduate Robby Williams' first career home run in the eighth capped a three-run rally, leading Louisville to a 7-6 win over Cincinnati.
Williams, who had doubles in the second and sixth innings, crushed a two-run blast to right off Bearcat starter B.J. Borsa (3-1), who took the loss. Third baseman Kyle Rajsich singled to open the eighth, followed by Bill Gatti Jr.'s first triple of the year down the left field line, scoring David Williams Jr., who was pinch running for Rajsich. Then Robby Williams left the yard for what proved to be the game winning run.
Cincinnati rightfielder Mark Belcher looked to make things interesting in the ninth, stroking an 0-2 pitch from Brad Mattingly (4-3) over the right field fence to lead off the inning and make the score 7-6. Mattingly retired centerfielder Anthony Snowell, and Sean Green shut the door on UC (16-6, 3-2), striking out yesterday's hero Kevin Youkilis looking and inducing a ground ball to Robby Williams to end the game to earn his third save of the season.
Mattingly pitched two-thirds of an inning to get the win for the Cards (8-16-1, 2-2-1).
The Cards pushed across an unearned run in the second before Cincy touched U of L starter Mike Gardner for four runs in the inning with two outs. Pinch hitter Brad Schutz singled in two, and was followed by catcher Nate Fish who ripped a double down the left field line to give the Bearcats a 4-1 lead.
Louisville's 6-7-8 hitters Gatti, catcher Tony Taylor and Robby Williams, were a combined 5-for-10 with 5 RBI and four runs. Taylor went the other way in the sixth following a Williams double for his first homer of the year, tying the score at four.
The teams will meet in the rubber game of the series Sunday at Cardinal Stadium at 1:00.
