Barons Blanked in First-Half Finale

June 16, 2019 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Matt Tomshaw delivered a six-inning, one-run effort, but the Birmingham Barons (27-42) closed out the first half of the Southern League season with a 1-0 loss against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (29-41) on Sunday afternoon at Regions Field.

Tomshaw (L, 2-3), who struck out eight batters in the performance, allowed just a single unearned run on three hits. The veteran left-hander suffered a tough loss as Birmingham's lineup could not string together enough offense against Jumbo Shrimp starter Sixto Sanchez.

Sanchez (W, 2-2), ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Marlins organization and No. 23 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, scattered five hits across six scoreless frames to earn his second win at the Double-A level.

The 20-year-old right-hander, whom the Marlins acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies as the centerpiece of an exchange for catcher J.T. Realmuto, allowed just one extra-base hit and struck out four.

Yermin Mercedes and Blake Rutherford posted back-to-back base hits in the second and fourth innings, but the Barons failed to take advantage.

Rutherford owns a .371 clip at the plate across his past 10 games. Mercedes, who will represent Birmingham in the 2019 Southern League All-Star Game as a replacement, heads into the break on the back of a two-hit effort.

Rutherford's two-out double in the fourth to place runners on second and third represented the Barons' best scoring opportunity of the contest, but Sanchez induced a soft fly out off the bat of Trey Michalczewski to end the threat.

Left-hander Hunter Schryver (2.0 IP) and right-hander Mauricio Cabrera (1.0 IP) logged scoreless appearances in relief for the Barons.

Following the All-Star break, Birmingham will return to action with a five-game road series against the Chattanooga Lookouts beginning Thursday.

First pitch in the series opener is set for 6:15 p.m. CT at AT&T Field as the Barons send right-hander Blake Battenfield (2-2, 4.88) to open up the second half of the season. The game will be broadcast via WJQX-FM 100.5 and coverage will begin at 6 p.m. with the Coca-Cola Pregame Show.

Southern League Stories from June 16, 2019

• Back-To-Back Jacks Lift Biscuits, 3-2 - Montgomery Biscuits
• Final Game in First Half Lost in Home Runs - Chattanooga Lookouts
• Blue Wahoos Stumble in First Half Finale - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
• Lugo and Smokies Exit Pensacola with 3-2 Rubber Match Win - Knoxville Smokies
• Barons Blanked in First-Half Finale - Birmingham Barons
• Waters Extends League-Best On-Base Streak in Loss - Mississippi Braves
• Sixto Scoreless as Shrimp Blank Barons 1-0 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
• Sweep Avoided as Francis and Company Silence Generals - Biloxi Shuckers
• Francis Foils Generals' Sweep in Sunday Shutout - Jackson Generals
• BayBears Win First-Half Finale, Split Series with Braves - Mobile BayBears
• Generals Gameday: June 16 vs. Biloxi - Jackson Generals
• Sunday, June 16 vs. Mobile BayBears | 1:05 Pm CT | Trustmark Park - Mississippi Braves
• Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Game Notes, June 16 at Birmingham - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
• Blue Wahoos Fall 2-1 to Smokies - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
• M-Braves Walk-Off Twice on Dallas Keuchel Day at Trustmark Park - Mississippi Braves

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