By Brian Bennett, The Courier-Journal

Deion Sanders, likely bound for the Reds, had 3 hits. From the gold Mercedes golf cart he once took to the Dallas Cowboys' training camp to the custom-built bus he occasionally used on the Louisville RiverBats' road trips, Deion Sanders has always traveled in style.

So it figured he'd go out in a flash last night. In what was in all likelihood the final ''Prime Time'' appearance at Louisville Slugger Field, Sanders collected three hits and two RBIs as the RiverBats defeated the Indianapolis Indians 11-7 before a crowd announced at 8,383.

His 3-for-5 performance raised his batting average to an International League-best .468. He is eligible to be called up by the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, during the Bats' eight-game road trip.

Several teammates took a moment during batting practice to have their photos snapped with Sanders, who said the camaraderie is what he'll miss most.

''The guys in this locker room are a great bunch of guys,'' he said. ''I pray that all of them come up (to Cincinnati) some way or another or that they reach their dreams and goals. They have made it so comfortable for me to be here.''

Fans who came to the park to see Sanders' farewell were treated to a wild, if sloppy, game. The Indians committed six errors, three by center fielder Alex Sanchez, and Louisville scored a run on a wild pitch.

''There were a lot of balls going everywhere and guys running all around the bases,'' said Louisville catcher Matt Walbeck.

Indianapolis cemented the outcome with its mistakes, especially in the seventh after pinch-hitter Micah Franklin's three-run homer gave the Indians a 7-6 lead. After Walbeck walked, Marty Malloy singled to center, and the ball rolled all the way to the warning track as Sanchez missed it and left fielder Brian Lesher was slow to back up the play. That allowed Walbeck to score the tying run.

Sanders then singled, and Wilton Guerrero grounded back to relief pitcher Mike Penney. But he threw the ball well over shortstop Elvis Pena's head, and Sanchez compounded the mistake by booting the ball in center. The two-error play brought home Malloy and Sanders for a 9-7 lead.

In the eighth, Bill Selby darted home on Mike Buddie's wild pitch on ball four to Brady Clark. Clark scored all the way from first when Walbeck's shallow pop fell between Pena and Sanchez, who heaved the ball to the backstop.

Walbeck, who had only six hits coming into last night, was 4 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

''I was seeing the ball real well,'' said Walbeck, whose first four-hit game since 1993 raised his average from .162 to .244. ''I just slowed it down, and I happened to get some good breaks and good pitches to hit.''

Louisville snapped an eight-game home losing streak to Indianapolis and moved 1 1/2 games in front of the Indians in the IL West.

But the game probably will be remembered best as Sanders' finale. He'll probably make his first major league appearance since 1997 on Tuesday night when the Reds play host to Los Angeles.

''I'm just going to try to go up there and do what I'm blessed to do,'' he said. ''I'm happy with what I'm accomplishing at this point, but I've still got a ways to go.''