SL1 Birmingham Barons

Barons Blank Suns, 5-0

Published on May 9, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


BIRMINGHAM, AL – The Barons capitalized on a fifth inning explosion, that featured six consecutive two-out hits, and a season-high tying 15 punch outs from the pitching staff to shutout the Jacksonville Suns 5-0 in front of 2,509 fans on Thursday evening at the Hoover Met. Birmingham now leads the series 3-0.

Suns starter Heath Totten (3-3) was cruising through the first four innings and started the fifth with consecutive groundouts before the Barons bats came alive with six straight two-out hits. Danny Sandoval singled up the middle to start the rally and trotted home on an RBI double by Ryan Hankins. Scott Bikowski followed with an RBI double of his own and scored on a single by Carlos Maldonado. After Gabe Alvarez singled to put runners at first and second, Jonathan Aceves doubled down the right field line to round out the inning scoring.

An insurance run was tacked on in the eighth when Chad Durham lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Eric Battersby, who had earlier doubled and moved to third on a groundout, but the pitching staff wouldn't need it.

Neal Cotts (5-1) picked up his team leading fifth victory after throwing five scoreless innings and striking out eight. Cotts did surrender five walks but got out of a one-out bases loaded jam in the second and a first and second, one-out situation in the fourth. Relievers Jeff Bajenaru and Matt Smith each tossed two scoreless innings to finish off the game and preserve the shutout.

The Barons look for the sweep tomorrow evening at 7:00 PM as they send out RHP Enemencio Pacheco (2-0, 1.14) to face Jacksonville's RHP Edwin Jackson (1-2, 2.67).

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Southern League Stories from May 9, 2003


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