Barons Drop Third Straight to Carolina, 3-2
Published on April 11, 2010 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
Charlie Shirek did everything he could to put the Birmingham Barons into the win column on Saturday night at Regions Park. But not even six shutout innings were enough to prevent the Barons from starting the season 0-3 as they fell to the Mudcats, 3-2.
Jacob Rasner (0-1, 9.00) recorded the first two outs with ease in the seventh inning. But a two-out, three-run rally by the Mudcats erased the Barons two-run lead and proved to be too much for the young squad to overcome. Jose Castro started the rally with a single to centerfield in front of consecutive doubles by Chris Denove and Jake Kahaulelio that tied the game at two a piece. Kahaulelio would score the go-ahead run a batter later on a Sean Danielson single.
The Barons cold bats continued Friday night as the team managed just five hits, the same hit total from each of the first two contests. Christian Marrero recorded his first hit of the young season, a single in the second inning. The outfielder came around to score on the next at-bat after his attempted steal prompted an errant throw into center field that got past the center fielder.
The Barons would increase their lead to two runs when Brent Morel turned a leadoff walk into run. Morel took second base on a wild pitch and moved to third base on a Marrero ground out to first base. He came around to score on a Lee Cruz sacrifice fly.
Shirek was determined to make the slim lead hold up. The right hander didn't allow a hit until there were two outs in the fourth inning and allowed just two total hits during his six innings on the mound. His only trouble came in his final frame when he hit Kristopher Negron with a one-out pitch before giving up a single to Eric Eymann that put runners on the corner. But a timely 5-4-3 double play ended the threat and the night for Shirek.
Tom Cochran (1-0, 1.50) stayed in just long enough to pick up the win. The lefty tossed six innings of three-hit ball and allowed two runs, one earned. He struck out seven and walked two before being pulled to start the seventh inning.
Jordan Smith earned the save after coaxing a game-ending groundout to a pinch-hitting Cole Armstrong with runners on the corners in the ninth inning.
The announced attendance was 7,145, bringing the weekend attendance total to 21,049.
Anthony Carter will make his Double A debut Sunday afternoon when the Barons take the field for a 2:05 PM contest with the Mudcats. Carolina will counter with Daryl Thompson. Sunday is a special Kids Eat Free Promotion with children receiving a free kids combo meal with the purchase of a full-priced kids ticket.
Southern League Stories from April 11, 2010
- Barons Fall to Carolina, 4-1 - Birmingham Barons
- Mudcats top Barons, 4-1 - Carolina Mudcats
- Jaxx Pitchers Toss One-Hit Shutout in 6-0 Win - Jackson Generals
- West Tenn Clinches Series with Shutout of Suns - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Biscuits Use Throwing Error to Walkoff in Wild Ninth - Montgomery Biscuits
- Smokies Make Tt Four-for-Four So Far - Mississippi Braves
- Smokies Streak To Fourth Straight 4-1 - Knoxville Smokies
- Wild Ninth Gives BayBears Hope, Heartbreak In Loss To Biscuits - Mobile BayBears
- Stars Edge Lookouts, 5-2 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Coughlin To Reno, Clifford And Sosa Trade Places On DL - Mobile BayBears
- Barons Drop Third Straight to Carolina, 3-2 - Birmingham Barons
- Biscuits Win Pitchers' Duel - Montgomery Biscuits
- Tennessee beats Mississippi - Mississippi Braves
- Pitcher's Duel Sides with Biscuits as BayBears Drop for the First Time - Mobile BayBears
- Smokies Take First Series with 7-3 Win - Knoxville Smokies
- Stars Stifle Lookouts, 11-1 - Chattanooga Lookouts
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