Barons Off To Best Start Since 1989
Published on May 26, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
HOOVER, AL - With their 8-2 win at Tennessee on Monday night, the Barons became the third team in all professional baseball - behind the Akron Aeros (Double-A, Cleveland) and the LA Dodgers - to reach the 30-win plateau in 2009.
Playing just their 44th game of the season, the Barons also became the quickest Birmingham team to record their 30th win since 1989 when the team started the season 30-7 en route to a Southern League Championship.
That year, the Barons recorded a Southern League record, 53 wins in the first half of the season and clinched the division with 16 games left to be played. Featuring a future All-Star in Robin Ventura, Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu, and former MLB pitching coach in Rick Peterson; the Barons opened that season with a 9-0 mark and added a 14-game winning streak from May 4-20.
This year's version of the Barons may not match those gaudy winning streaks, but with seven of the White Sox top-10 prospects, this year's team has a chance to match the magic of that Run-a-Way Train team from '89. The team currently holds a 5.5 game lead over Mobile and is the only team in the Southern League more than five games above .500.
Featuring the top-four hitters in the Sox farm system, including Gordon Beckham, Dayan Viciedo, Tyler Flowers and Brandon Allen, the Barons have scored 237 runs on the season - 34 more than any team in the league and feature four of the top-10 RBI leaders in the league (Stefan Gartrell, CJ Retherford, Viciedo and Allen). The team is slugging a Southern League best .433 - 45 points higher than any team in the league. They have also clubbed a league-best 46 home runs - 11 more than any team in the league.
On the mound, the 24-wins recorded by their starting pitchers is the most of any staff in the Southern League. Lucas Harrell and John Ely lead the league in wins with five a piece. Aaron Poreda is leading the Southern League in strikeouts with 55 and Brian Omogrosso is right behind in fourth place with 45 K's. Fernando Hernandez has eight saves, good for third place.
Southern League Stories from May 26, 2009
- Barons Earn First Tuesday Win - Birmingham Barons
- Torra Strong as BayBears Open Homestand with Win - Mobile BayBears
- Walk-off Gets Smokies a Split in Doubleheader - Knoxville Smokies
- Biscuits Drop Opener to Cats, 5-4 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Huntsville Bounces Back From Tough Loss in Opener - Huntsville Stars
- BayBears Power Past Suns on Tuesday - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Mudcats Take Sixth Straight - Carolina Mudcats
- Jaxx and Lookouts Washed Out on Tuesday - Jackson Generals
- Barons Off To Best Start Since 1989 - Birmingham Barons
- Barons Announce Hall of Fame Class of 2009 - Birmingham Barons
- Bucci Joins Stars - Huntsville Stars
- Smith Wins Southern League 'Hitter of the Week' Award - Knoxville Smokies
- Southern League Announces Hitter and Pitcher of the Week - SL1
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