SL1 Birmingham Barons

Baez Hits Two Homers in 10-8 Win over Barons

Published on August 21, 2013 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


The Birmingham Barons had no answer for top Cubs prospect Javier Baez Wednesday night as he finished 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI in 10-8 win for the Tennessee Smokies in front of 3,217 fans at Regions Field.

The Barons would take an early 1-0 lead in the first thanks to a double by Cody Puckett off the top of the wall in center field and a two-out RBI single by Dan Black.

The Smokies would capitalize on an error by shortstop Tommy Manzella in the third to score four runs, highlighted by a towering three-run homer by Baez against starter Spencer Arroyo to take a 4-1 lead.

The Smokies would chase Arroyo from the game in sixth on a two-out RBI double by Rafael Lopez. Arroyo exited after allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits over 5.2 IP.

The Barons would knock Smokies starter Matt Loosen from the game in the bottom half of the inning on a two-run double by Brandon Jacobs, scoring Trayce Thompson and Dan Black to cut the deficit to 5-3.

Baez would swat his second long ball of the night in the seventh against Reliever Dan Remenowksy. On the season, Baez has amassed 33 home runs between Class A Daytona and Class AA Tennessee.

The Barons, who had failed to score more than three runs in a game in two weeks, erupted for three runs in the eighth, with a little help from the Smokies. Trayce Thompson drew a one out walk, stole second and went to third on an error. He would score a batter later on an RBI groundout by Dan Black to cut the deficit to 6-4. Brandon Jacobs and Keenyn Walker would follow with base hits to put two runners on for Chris McMurray who would send a fly ball to right fielder John Andreoli. What looked like an easy out turned into an adventure when Andreoli botched the catch allowing Jacobs and Walker to score, tying the game at 6-6.

The Smokies would respond in the top of the ninth, scoring four runs against Kevin Vance (2-5, 3.43), getting a go-ahead sacrifice fly by Baez, a two-run double by Christian Villanueva and an RBI single by Jonathan Mota to take a 10-6 lead they would not relinquish.

With the loss, the Barons suffered just their fourth home series loss while falling to 72-57 on the season and 28-31 in the second half. The win moved the Smokies to 70-57 on the season and 26-22 in the second half.

The Barons will look to avoid their first four-loss homestand of the season tomorrow night as RHP Chris Bassitt (3-2, 2.02) takes the hill against LHP Eric Jokisch (10-11, 3.50). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM CDT.

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Southern League Stories from August 21, 2013


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