Barons Reclaim Division Lead With Marathon 13-Inning Victory
July 31, 2013 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
Birmingham, AL - It took 13 marathon innings and almost five hours to complete, but the Barons regained the top spot in the North Division Second Half standings with a 9-6 win over the Tennessee Smokies Wednesday night in front of 3,531 fans at Smokies Park.
Marcus Semien enjoyed another tremendous night, finishing 3-for-4 and a triple short of the cycle while giving the Barons the lead on two separate occasions. He followed a Keenyn Walker RBI single with a base hit to left to give the Barons 2-1 lead in the second. In the fifth he would break a 3-3 tie with a two-run home run to left field, his team-leading 15th long ball of the season.
The Barons were unable to hold the 5-3 lead as reliever Salvador Sanchez surrendered a two-run double to Arismendy Alcantara in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game at 5-5.
The score would remain knotted for the next six innings as Kevin Vance and Nestor Molina (1-1, 4.71) combined to allow just two hits over 5.0 scoreless innings, setting the table for a four-run eruption in the 13th inning.
Mike Blanke led off the inning with a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cody Puckett. After a walk to Luis Sierra, Walker would give the Barons a 6-5 lead with a base hit to left, scoring pinch-runner David Herbek. Reliever Kevin Rhoderick (1-5, 5.79) would intentionally walk Semien to get to Tyler Saladino, but Saladino worked a bases loaded walk to drive in the second run of the inning. The Barons would score two more runs in the inning on a throwing error by Smokies' shortstop Javier Baez to take a 9-5 lead they would not relinquish.
With the win, the Barons reclaimed the top spot in the North Division Second Half Standings, improving to 67- 41 and 23-15 in the second half. With the loss the Smokies fell to 56-50 and 22-15 in the second half. The Barons will look to capture a series win on Wednesday as RHP Chris Bassitt (2-0, 2.70) takes the hill against RHP Matt Loosen (1-2, 7.46). First pitch is scheduled for 6:15 PM CDT.
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