Brandon Williamson made his start of the season for the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, on Saturday.
The Martin County West graduate went three innings and was not involved in the decision as Louisville lost 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning of the scheduled seven-inning game with the Nashville Sounds, an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Starting in the second game of a season-opening doubleheader, Williamson allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits, walked two and struck out two at First Horizon Park in Nashville. He threw 74 pitches, 38 for strikes.
The Sounds also won the first game 3-1 in eight innings.
Former National League MVP, and six-time big league All-Star Joey Votto is starting the season with Louisville on a rehab assignment as he works his way back from rotator cuff and biceps surgery that ended his 2022 season with Cincinnati.
Votto homered on the first pitch he saw in Saturday’s first game and singled and scored in Louisville’s 5-2, 10-inning win on Sunday as each game in the three-game series went to extra innings.
After a day off on Monday, the Bats open their home schedule Tuesday with the first of six vs. the Indianapolis Indians, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.