Barons Outlast Smokies in 14-Inning Marathon
May 8, 2013 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
After winning a five inning rain-shortened game on Tuesday, the Barons made up for it with a 14-inning marathon Wednesday afternoon, outlasting the Tennessee Smokies 12-11 in front of 7,364 fans at Smokies Park.
The Barons' offense continued their red-hot hitting early, scoring six runs in the first inning highlighted by a two-run double by Southern League RBI leader Dan Black. Mike Blanke added an RBI single in the inning for the Barons who have scored six runs in an inning three times so far in two games against the Smokies this season.
With ace starter Erik Johnson on the mound, the game looked to be well in hand. However, Johnson experienced his first rough start as a Baron, allowing six runs on five hits over just 4.2 innings. A Tyler Saladino RBI single in the fifth kept the Barons ahead as the Smokies scored a pair of runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, cutting the lead to 7-6.
Leading 9-6 in the ninth, the Barons suffered their first blown save of the season as reliever Daniel Webb allowed a two-run double to Ty Wright on a line drive to right field that outfielder Cody Puckett misplayed. Webb was replaced by Ryan Kussmaul who allowed a tying single to Rafael Lopez. Kussmaul was able to escape the inning with the winning run on second base.
The Barons would jump out ahead in the 10th with two runs on an RBI double by Cody Puckett and a run scoring single by Dan Wagner. However, the Smokies refused to give in, loading the bases and scoring two runs against Kussmaul to tie the game at 12-12. Again, Kussmaul was able to escape a bases loaded situation without allowing the game to slip away.
The perseverance of the bullpen would pay of in the 14th when Cody Puckett atoned for his earlier miscue with a two-out RBI single to left, scoring Michael Earley and giving the Barons a 12-11 lead they would not relinquish.
The win went to Taylor Thompson (3-0, 2.70) who came up huge with 3.0 scoreless innings without allowing a hit and striking out three. The win pushed the Barons to 22-10 on the season and extended their season-best winning streak to nine games. The streak is their longest since winning 10 in a row in 2009. The Barons lead the second place Smokies (15-16) by 6.5 games in the Southern League North Division.
The Barons will look to make it three-straight in Tennessee tomorrow morning as RHP Nick McCully (2-1, 4.80) takes the hill against RHP Alberto Cabrera (3-1, 3.31). First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 AM CDT.
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Southern League Stories from May 8, 2013
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