The Indianapolis Indians, the only Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate team to play on Easter Sunday, earned their first series loss of the season to the Louisville Bats, as they were defeated 4-2 on Saturday and 5-1 on Sunday before earning the extra-inning walk-off victory on Monday night.

It seems as though the Bats are the team that is most difficult for the Tribe to beat at home – pulling out Monday night’s victory by the skin of their teeth, after dropping games one and two of the series.

The weekend included many roster moves for Indians most notably the return of Tribe catcher Tony Sanchez who started the season on the Pirates’ roster and Jared Hughes promotion to the Major Leagues.

Monday night’s starter Jeff Locke gave up three runs – two of which came on solo shots – during his six innings of work. Duke Welker, Daniel Schlereth, Vin Mazzaro and Jay Jackson all saw work from the bullpen in the 11-inning game. Jackson earned the win while Schlereth was awarded with a blown save after giving up the two tying runs in the top of the eighth.

Gregory Polanco scored the first Tribe run, while Chris McGuiness, Matt Hague, Chase d’Arnaud, and Brent Morel scored the other four runs. Adalberto Santos drove in the winning run following a double by Sanchez. Before Monday night, Santos only had one hit with the Tribe.

On Sunday with Jake Brigham on the mound, the Tribe lost 5-1. Brigham held his own, but had a rough second inning, where he gave up four of five earned runs. His final lead was five innings pitched with five runs on five hits and four strikeouts. Andy Oliver made his fourth straight scoreless relief appearance lasting two innings and striking out three. Josh Kinney was called on for the last two innings and held the Bats scoreless and striking out three.

The only Tribe run came courtesy of a sacrifice fly by d’Arnaud that scored McGuiness in the fifth inning.

Saturday night was the Indianapolis Indians’ Autism Awareness night with players wearing a special puzzle piece jersey. The Bats scored the first run, of the four they would win the game with, in the first inning. The Tribe answered with a run of their own in the second – when Andrew Lambo scored on a Hague single.

Tribe starter Adam Wilk lasted five innings before being relieved by Mazzaro and Phil Irwin. Wilk gave up three runs on four hits and striking out four. Mazarro held the Bats to two scoreless innings, while Irwin gave up one run in two innings of work.

In the eighth inning, the Indians drove in their second and final run of the night when Chris Dickerson singled to center and catcher Nevin Ashley came around to score.

The Indians head to Toledo for a matchup against the Mud Hens on Tuesday night. Casey Sadler is the expected starter – and going for his third win of the season – with first pitch expected to be at 6:30 p.m.