Barons Let Early Lead Slip, Win in Extras
July 25, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Despite plating five runs in the first inning, Keenyn Walker was forced to hit a two-run, game-tying homer in the ninth to send Friday's game in Jacksonville, Fla., to extra innings, eventually leading to an 8-7 Barons win over the Suns.
Rain at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville delayed the game over two hours, forcing starting pitcher Robinson Leyer to spend nearly six hours at the stadium before throwing a pitch - and it showed. In his second start with Birmingham, after picking up a win in his first appearance, allowed eight hits and six runs while just three were earned.
A bases-loaded walk to Christian Marrero from Jacksonville starter Josh Hodges scored the Barons first run, and a two-RBI Danny Hayes double scored the second and third. Back-to-back RBI groundouts from Adrian Nieto and Joey DeMichele rounded out the scoring.
The Suns started making their comeback in the second on a couple of timely hits to plate two runs, and went on to score two runs in the fourth and fifth, and plated their seventh run in the seventh.
Trailing 7-5 going to the ninth, Birmingham had managed just two hits, and Jacksonville brought on closer Juancito Martinez to slam the door on the Barons. Walker would not have it, though, as the outfielder planted a two-run shot into the right-field bleacher to tie the game 2-2 to send the contest into extra innings.
Both teams were scoreless in the 10th, but a walk to Nicky Delmonico, beautiful bunt by Nieto and bloop single from DeMichele scored Birmingham's go-headed run in the 11th inning. With reliever Zach Isler (1-0, 1.86 ERA) on the hill, the right-hander picked up his first win by tossing 1.2 innings of shutout baseball. Jacksonville's Martinez (0-2, 4.43 ERA) was charged the extra-inning loss.
On the evening, Birmingham collected just four hits. Walker's homer, a double from Hayes, and singles by DeMichele and Jacob May accounted for the total. May also scored a run in his return to the lineup.
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