SL1 Birmingham Barons

Barons Pace Southern League in Attendance as 2019 Season Concludes

Published on September 2, 2019 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Birmingham Barons (37-30, 64-72) concluded their 2019 season with a 6-1 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers (41-28, 82-57) on Monday afternoon at Regions Field.

Luis Valenzuela delivered the lone run for the Barons via a solo shot in the sixth inning. It marked his first home run as a member of the Barons after the infielder spent the first 79 games of the season with Double-A Mississippi.

The Barons struggled at the plate against Biloxi's trio of right-handers - Drew Rasmussen, Bowden Francis and Luis Contreras - in the season finale.

Rasmussen and Francis took a combined no-hit bid into the sixth before Valenzuela's leadoff blast.

A five-run sixth for the Shuckers backed their strong pitching performance. Five consecutive batters reached base against Barons right-hander Vince Arobio and left-hander Kodi Medeiros.

Arobio (L, 3-2) allowed four runs (all earned) on four hits in 2.2 innings of work as part of a bullpen day for the Barons. He entered in relief of southpaw John Parke, who tossed three scoreless frames to open the game.

Tyler Johnson recorded his fourth consecutive, multi-inning relief outing for the Barons to end his 2019 campaign on a strong note. The White Sox No. 19 prospect did not allow a hit and struck out three.

Facing a 6-1 deficit, the Barons put together a brief rally in the seventh when Blake Rutherford singled to lead off the frame. Joel Booker then reached on a fielder's choice and Luis Gonzalez drew a walk to put a runner in scoring position. However, Shuckers right-hander Luis Contreras induced a 1-6-3 double play to end the threat.

Contreras earned his first save of the season with three shutout innings. Francis (W, 7-8) collected his seventh win for Biloxi.

Birmingham concluded its 2019 slate with a total home attendance figure of 379,707, which paced the Southern League for the seventh straight season (every year since Regions Field opened in 2013).

The Barons will welcome the Southern League's newest franchise - Rocket City Trash Pandas - to Regions Field in their 2020 season opener, which is set for April 9. It will mark the first time since 2015 in which Birmingham's season opener doubles as its home opener.

For more information about the Birmingham Barons or to purchase season tickets for the 2020 campaign, please visit barons.com or call the box office at 205.988.3200.

Check out the Birmingham Barons Statistics

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Southern League Stories from September 2, 2019


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