SL1 Birmingham Barons

Barons Begin Title Defense with Blowout Win over Biscuits

April 3, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


Birmingham, AL - The defending Southern League Champions flexed their collective muscles Thursday night in the 2014 season opener against the Montgomery Biscuits, collecting 11 hits including three home runs in a 9-2 win.

The Barons scored early and often against Biscuits' starter Victor Mateo (0-1, 15.43). Micah Johnson picked up where he left during the Southern League playoffs with a leadoff triple and scampered home after a throwing error by center fielder Willie Argo. After a two out single by Kevan Smith, Rangel Ravelo delivered with an RBI double scoring Smith from first base to give the Barons a 2-0 lead.

After the Biscuits plated a run in the bottom half of the inning, Jamie Pedroza collected the first Barons homer of the season, a solo shot to right field giving the Barons a 3-1 lead. Two batters later, Johnson struck againwith a booming two-run shot to right-center, giving the Barons a 5-1 advantage.

Pedroza came through again in the 4th, swatting his second home run in his first two at-bats of the season to give the Barons a 6-1 lead. Pedroza and Johnson each finished the night 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI apiece.

The lead ballooned to 8-1 in the 5th on a two-run double off the wall in left field by Josh Richmond, scoring Kevan Smith and Christian Marrero. An RBI infield single by Michael Earley in the sixth capped the scoring onslaught, givng the Barons a 9-2 lead.

Starter Chris Beck (1-0, 3.60) was the beneficiary of the offensivefireworks, picking up his first win of the season after allowing two runs on four hits and striking out three over 5.0 IP.

In his first rehab appearance with the Barons, White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham went 0-for-3 with two pop outs and a strikeout. Beckham is recovering from a strained oblique suffered in spring training.

The Barons will look to win their second game in a row against the Biscuits tomorrow night in game two of their five-game series. RHP Myles Jaye makes his first start of the season for the Barons against RHP Dylan Floro.First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM CDT.

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