SL1 Birmingham Barons

Barons Rally Past Suns in Ninth, 4-3

Published on May 7, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


BIRMINGHAM, AL – Carlos Maldonaldo stroked a one-out double in the bottom of the ninth to score Darron Ingram and Juan Piniella as the Barons came from behind to beat the Jacksonville Suns by a score of 4 to 3 in front of 2,801 fans on Tuesday night at the Met. The game was interrupted by a 1:13 rain delay but the Barons fought off the storm and were able to claim victory after scoring three runs in the final two innings.

Barons starter, Dennis Ulacia was off to a hot start as he threw two perfect innings and struck out four but had to come out of the game after the contest was delayed for an hour and thirteen minutes due to rain. Clay Eason started the third for the Barons and was rudely met as Tony Socarras lifted a two-run homer down the left-field line to make the score 2-0. The Barons, however, answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning as Danny Sandoval drew a bases loaded walk against Suns reliever Greg Bauer.

The score would remain the same until Jacksonville leftfielder Jason Repko ripped his fourth bomb of the season in the top of the seventh to make the score 3-1. Birmingham would get that run back with a Sandoval sacrifice fly in the eighth and set up the Maldonaldo heroics in the ninth.

With the Barons down a run, 3-2, in the ninth, Jacksonville closer Lino Urdaneta (0-3) came on to try and pick up his fifth save in as many chance. The Barons had other ideas. After Ryan Hankins struck out to start the inning, Ingram walked and Piniella laid down a perfect bunt single down the third base line. With runners on first and second, Maldonaldo then sent an Urdaneta offering into the right centerfield gap to plate Ingram and a speedy Piniella for the come-from-behind, last-at-bat victory.

Jake Meyer (1-0) picked up the win in relief after tossing two perfect innings and striking out four Jacksonville batters. On the season, Meyer has struck out at least one batter in every game. He has a strikeout-streak dating back to 8/6/02 and has a 2-0 record with a 1.27 ERA (4er/28.1ip) with 33 K's during that span.

Game two of the four-game series is tomorrow morning at 11:00 AM and will feature RHP Brian West (1-2, 5.74) for the Barons and RHP Tom Farmer (1-1, 1.82) for the Suns. All the action can be heard on 1260 AM starting at 10:40 AM with Curt Bloom.

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Southern League Stories from May 7, 2003


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