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SL Birmingham Barons

Barons' Fast Start Could Not Hold off Trash Pandas in 9-8 Loss

July 3, 2023 - Southern League (SL)
Birmingham Barons News Release


The Birmingham Barons started fast with scoring their eight runs in the first two innings of Game 5 against the Rocket City Trash Pandas. Rocket City did score the first run of the ballgame, however, with the lopsided score of 8-1 after the first two innings, one would assume the game was out of reach. The Barons allowed the Trash Pandas to score eight runs combined between the fourth, fifth and eighth innings to overcome the seven-point deficit. Birmingham squandered their big lead to Rocket City as the opposition stole the Sunday contest by a score of 9-8.

The Barons collected five runs in the first inning and three more runs in the second. Among the runs scored Yoelqui Cespedes and Chris Shaw both tallied two RBI. Cespedes finished the game 2-5 with a run and two RBI that came in the bottom of the first inning. Shaw collected one of his RBIs in the bottom of the first as well as the bottom of the second while batting 2-4 from the plate. The 29-year-old also collected a double to add to his two home runs on the series so far.

The duo was the most decorated but the scoring by the Barons was started with a base-loaded walk by Alsander Womack. The walk started the run parade with a two RBI single from Cespedes coming closely behind that advanced Womack to third. Shaw then delivered Womack across home plate on his double. One batter later, Xavier Fernandez added another run to the scoreboard as he reached on a throwing error by Rocket City, scoring Shaw in the process.

The Trash Pandas secured a single run in the top of the first inning to make the score, after one, 5-1. With the four run lead, the Barons felt like they needed to add more to it with a three run second frame. Among the three runs, Shaw and Moises Castillo were the Barons to corral them across the plate.

Shaw delivered the first runs of the inning in a single that scored Luis Mieses and Cespedes, respectively. Shaw rose to seven RBIs on the series with his second and final hit of the night. After Shaw's contribution, Castillo delivered his hard-hit single to center field to score the aforementioned.

The Barons were rolling on offense as the scoreboard read 8-1 after a pair of innings. Birmingham's starting RHP Cristian Mena was tagged with the run in the inning but looked as if he was turning around his outing until the top of the fourth. Mena held the opposition scoreless in the second and third, however, allowed three more runs in the fourth.

Mena's outing ended in the fourth with the 20-year-old mustering 3.2 IP. The right-hander finished his night allowing six hits, four earned runs and two walks to go with three strikeouts.

Birmingham still held onto the lead with the score sitting at 8-4 with the bullpen looking to carry the rest of the game.

RHP Yoelvin Silven was the first to come out of the bullpen for the Barons for his 2.1 IP. Silven allowed his lone earned run in the fifth but kept the Trash Pandas at bay the rest of his time on the mound. The right-hander finished his efforts with three strikeouts and only allowing three hits in nine batters faced.

The Barons carried the lead into the eighth with the aid of Silven and LHP Garrett Crochet. Crochet in his first action since being assigned to Double-A Birmingham for his second MLB Rehab assignment managed 0.2 innings pitched. The southpaw finished his night allowing one hit and one walk to go with his two strikeouts.

Birmingham was holding onto the lead as Rocket City was closing in and with a four run eighth innings, the Trash Pandas captured the lead. LHP Ben Holmes was the guilty party as he allowed four runs (zero earned runs) in his lone inning of work.

Rocket City scored their winning runs by a passed ball by Fernandez and a three-run home run by Kyren Paris. The momentum in the game was fully swung in the away teams favor as the Barons were sat down in six batters for the last six outs.

Birmingham now finds themselves down a game with one left to play. The Barons will send out LHP Tommy Sommer for the opportunity to split the series in Game 6 against the Trash Pandas.

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Southern League Stories from July 3, 2023


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