SL1 Birmingham Barons

Barons Cruise to 6-2 Win Over BayBears

July 2, 2008 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


HOOVER, Ala. -- The Birmingham Barons jumped out to an early four-run lead and never looked back, coasting to a 6-2 win over the Mobile BayBears Wednesday night. It was Birmingham's (49-36, 9-6) fourth straight win overall and fifth in sixth games against the BayBears this year.

Birmingham jumped on Mobile starter Hector Ambriz (5-10) early, getting a pair of hits and an RBI groundout in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead.

The most damage was done in the third, though. After a pair of flyouts opened the home half of the inning, Victor Mercedes doubled and later took third on a wild pitch. Javier Colina followed with a walk and took second on another wild pitch that allowed Mercedes to score. Stefan Gartrell ripped an RBI double, and Ricardo Nanita followed with a run-scoring single to push the Birmingham lead to 4-0.

That was more than enough offense for Birmingham starter Carlos Torres (9-4), who tallied his ninth quality start of the year and took over the league lead in wins. He opened the game with five shutout innings and got a quick groundout to start the sixth. But back-to-back singles and a walk loaded the bases, and a sacrifice fly got Mobile (35-50, 6-9) on the board to cut its deficit to 4-1.

Birmingham immediately responded in its half of the inning, getting RBI singles from Robbie Hudson and Eric Hollis to extend the lead to 6-1. Mobile would scratch out a run against Birmingham reliever Joe Torres in the seventh to pull within 6-2 but would get no closer.

Carlos Torres, named to the Southern League All-Star team earlier this week, snagged his third win in his last four decisions with a strong six-inning effort. He scattered five hits, all singles, allowed just one walk and struck out three. Five Barons posted multi-hit efforts, led by All-Star Ricardo Nanita's three-hit evening. Hudson drove in a pair of runs for his first multi-RBI effort since he posted 3 RBI at Huntsville on May 22.

Birmingham will look to sweep the four-game series when the two teams square off Thursday night at 7:05 pm. Righty Kyle McCulloch (5-7) will start for the Barons against fellow right-hander Cesar Valdez (0-0).

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