BATS

Louisville Bats fall to Norfolk 9-4 in Chapman's return

Michael Grant
@MichaelGrant_CJ

Aroldis Chapman's return to Louisville Slugger Field on Tuesday night was a rough one.

The Cuban left-hander was tagged for five runs in less than an inning as the Louisville Bats lost to Norfolk 9-4. The Cincinnati closer made his third minor league rehabilitation appearance but his first with the Reds' Triple-A affiliate. He was scheduled to pitch only the first inning.

Chapman threw hard; four pitches reached 100 mph and he topped out at 101. But he didn't fool the batters, yielding four hits in two-thirds of an inning. He also threw a wild pitch and hit a batter.

Of his 33 pitches, he threw 21 for strikes.

Chapman spoke to the media through Spanish translator Rigo Febles, the Reds' assistant minor league strength and conditioning coordinator.

"He said … he's happy to be out there throwing again," Febles said. "His fastball was good. He didn't have the control tonight, but he still felt good physically."

According to Reds vice president Bill Bavasi, who attended the game, Chapman probably will pitch out of the bullpen in the Bats' 11:05 a.m. game today. The Reds had hoped he would throw 18-20 pitches in the first inning Tuesday.

"I give the Norfolk hitters a lot of credit," Bats manager Jim Riggleman said. "They had some great at-bats. Even though he didn't have command of his pitches, it's still not an easy job to hit them."

Riggleman pointed out that Chapman's pitching line could have been better if a double play had been turned. Chapman also cut off a throw to home instead of backing up the plate after a hit.

The Tides' first two batters — Steve Lombardozzi and Ivan De Jesus — singled up the middle on 98 mph pitches. That had to be alarming for Chapman, who was originally hurt on a spring-training comebacker that struck him in the head, leading to surgery to fix a broken bone above his left eye.

"He didn't have any flashbacks or thoughts about it," Febles said. "It did go over his head, but it didn't hit him. He didn't have any ill thoughts about it."

Chapman struck out the third batter on an 88 mph breaking pitch, but he hit Brett Wallace with a 101 mph fastball to load the bases.

Norfolk scored a run on a Chris Marrero groundout, and it appeared Chapman might escape without further damage. But he walked a batter to load the bases again. Cord Phelps singled in a run and, after a wild pitch, Buck Britton doubled just past the outstretched glove of center fielder Kristopher Negron to score two more and make it 5-0.

That was it for Chapman.

"He said he didn't have control of his fastball today," Febles said. "He didn't think about striking people out. He was just trying to locate his fastball."

After Chapman makes his second appearance with the Bats, he could soon rejoin the Reds.

"He feels like he's ready to go," Febles said. "He's got to throw a couple more innings, but the decision is up to the Reds."

After Louisville fell behind 5-0, Norfolk stretched its lead to 8-0 in the third inning.

Contact Michael Grant at (502) 582-4069, and on Twitter @MichaelGrant_CJ.