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 Montgomery Biscuits

Johnson, Biscuits slam Birmingham, 8-3

April 26, 2006 - Southern League (SL1)
Montgomery Biscuits News Release


MONTGOMERY - Elliot Johnson hit the first grand slam for a Biscuits player at Riverwalk Stadium in a pivotal five-run rally as Montgomery (13-8) stunned the Birmingham Barons (8-13), 8-3, in the opener of a five-game series.

In a game delayed for 31 minutes by rain before the start of play, the Biscuits' second baseman single-handedly fired up the home crowd. In addition to his seventh inning grand slam, Johnson added a two-run double in the eighth inning to put the game away. In all, the second baseman went 3-for-5 with 6 runs batted in, a team record for RBIs in a game.

For six innings, Montgomery and Birmingham were scoreless, thanks to the fine pitching of each team's ace. Biscuits starter Andy Sonnanstine was reached first, allowing two runs in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly and run-scoring single. Those would be the only runs off Sonnanstine in 6 1/3 innings of work, with the righthander fanning seven batters and walking none.

Barons starter Ray Liotta, meanwhile, blanked Montgomery on three hits through six strong innings. He was removed in favor of Brian West to begin the seventh, and the Biscuits quickly took advantage of the new hurler.

West faced four batters and only recorded one out, yielding to fellow reliever Dwayne Pollok with one run in and runners on first and second. After a Jeremy Owens infield-single loaded the bases, Elliot Johnson crushed a 3-1 fastball from Pollok to deep right-center field. Johnson's fourth home run of the season gave Montgomery their first lead of the game at 5-2. Two batters later, the inning would see the ejection of Birmingham manager Chris Cron, incensed over the second base umpire's ruling that Ryan Knox was safe in his attempt to steal second base.

In the eighth, Birmingham tallied a solo run on an error by Johnson. But in the bottom of the inning, following an Owens RBI single, the Biscuits' leadoff hitter would extend the advantage. His ensuing two-run double into the leftfield corner effectively closed out the scoring.

Montgomery reliever Jeff Ridgway (1-0) earns the victory, hurling 1.0 inning in relief of Sonnanstine and allowing an unearned run on one hit. Closer Juan Salas notches his fifth save of the season, striking out three batters and walking one over 1.2 innings. In eight appearances covering 10.2 innings, Salas is yet to allow an earned run. Brian West (1-3) suffers the loss for Birmingham, pitching 1/3 of an inning and allowing three runs on two hits and a walk.

The Biscuits play the second game of the series against Birmingham on Thursday night at 7:05 pm. Tony Peguero (3-1, 2.49) takes the mound for Montgomery, opposed by the Barons' Lance Broadway (2-1, 2.16).


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