SL1 Birmingham Barons

Barons Comeback Comes Up Short; Lose 6-5

Published on June 17, 2010 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


The Barons nearly came all the way back from a 5-run, first-inning deficit Thursday night at Regions Park against the Suns, but came up just short after loading the bases in the final frame and dropped the game 6-5.

The game began 56 minutes late after rain swept through the Regions Park area, but the Suns came out ready once the first pitch was thrown. Barons starting pitcher Justin Edwards (1-4, 5.68) was hit hard early. The young lefthander allowed the first six batters to reach base and had the Barons in a 5-0 hole before ever recording an out. Os Martinez led off the inning with a single and stole second base ahead of a walk to Ryan Curry. Brandon Tripp then cleared the bases with a triple over Miguel Negron's head in center field. A walk to Lee Mitchell gave the Suns runners at the corners and set the table for Mark Saccomanno's two-run triple to right field. Saccamanno came around to score on an error by Dale Mollenhauer at third base.

Edwards calmed down from there, allowing just one runner to reach second base in the next 3.0 innings before falling into a bit more trouble in the 5^th inning when Curry led off with a double. Mitchell plated Curry with a double of his own one batter later Edwards ended the night giving up five earned runs (six total) on seven hits in 5.0 innings. He struck out three batters and walked two more.

The Barons started to chop away at the lead in their half of the first inning. Trailing 5-0, the home team put up three runs of its own. Negron led off the inning with a double to right field and moved to third base on CJ Retherford's line drive single to left. Fernando Cortez - who came into the game with a Barons season-high 11-game hitting streak - kept the hit parade with a single to right field that scored Negron. Jim Gallagher followed with a sacrifice fly that gave the Barons their second run of the game. After a double from Christian Marrero and an RBI single from Cole Armstrong, it appeared the night was going to turn into a slugfest. But an inning-ending double play by Sanchez ended the scoring threats for both teams for a while.

The Barons came back with a run in the fifth inning when Negron led off with a double and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Retherford. He came around to score a batter later on a Cortez groundout to the shortstop.

The Barons also added a run in the ninth inning when Negron led off with his third hit of the game and stole second base a batter later. He came around to score on a double by Gallagher. Consecutive walks to Marrero and Armstrong gave the Barons a bases-loaded situation with two outs that they couldn't capitalize on.

Tom Koehler (8-1) calmed down after allowing three, first-inning runs and wound up tossing 7.0 strong innings. The righty allowed just one more run the rest of the way and finished the night allowing four runs on 12 hits. He struck out four and walked a batter.

The two teams will finish their April 23 suspended game tomorrow night at 5 PM before resuming the current series with the third game. The resumption of the suspended game will last the full nine innings and will resume with the Barons trailing 1-0 with two outs in the fourth inning and a runner on second base. Christian Marrero will be the batter when play resumes. Kyle McCulloch (0-0, 2.00) will relieve Johnnie Lowe when play resumes. Lowe pitched the first three innings before play was suspended. The Suns will throw a relief pitcher to be determined.

Lowe (2-0, 3.55) will then start the regularly scheduled game opposite Andrew Miller (0-4, 9.78). The regularly scheduled game will last 7.0 innings and will begin immediately following the conclusion of the suspended contest.

Gates for tomorrow night's game will open at 4:30 PM with the first 1,000 adults to enter the park after 4:30 receiving Gordon Beckham bobblehead dolls compliments of Auto-Owners Insurance.

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Southern League Stories from June 17, 2010


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