SL1 Birmingham Barons

Barons Shock Stars With 5-4 Win

Published on June 18, 2009 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


Huntsville walked Tyler Flowers intentionally with two outs in the ninth inning Friday night and Dayan Viciedo made them pay with a game-winning single to right field as the Barons came from behind for the second-straight day to defeat the Stars, 5-4.

Trailing 4-3 in the final frame, Robbie Hudson reached on an error with one out when Kevin Melillo couldn't come up with his slow dribbler. Hudson stole second and third base before coming home on CJ Retherford's game-tying double. The intentional walk to Flowers put runners on first and second base before Viciedo came through with the walk-off hit.

Lucas Harrell was unable to pick up his league-leading 9th win despite holding the Huntsville scoreless on two hits through six innings. Ahead 3-0 in the seventh inning, the 24-year old right hander watched as his defense struggled behind him. Two straight errors to start the inning opened the flood gates for Huntsville to put up four unearned runs on Harrell.

Jhonny Nunez (3-0, 2.52) picked up the win in relief of Harrell after pitching 2.2 innings of scoreless baseball. He struck out a season-high six batters.

Christian Marrero hit his first Double A home run after joining the Barons earlier in the day. The Carolina League All Star took the first pitch he saw and launched it into the scoreboard for a two-run shot. It marked the second-consecutive year that a first baseman joined the Barons from Winston-Salem at mid season and drove the first pitch he saw for a home run; Brandon Allen did the trick last year against Montgomery's David Price.

Tyler Flowers added his 10th home run in the third inning, a solo shot.

The Barons and the Stars continue their series with a double-header Friday. John Ely (6-1, 3.34) takes the ball for the Barons in game one opposite left hander David Welch (4-4, 5.63). Matt Zaleski (3-0, 2.59) will get the call for the Barons in game two. Huntsville has yet to name a starter for the second game. It marks the third double-header that will feature the Ely and Zaleski duo. The Barons swept both double dips.

First pitch is set for 5:00 PM with gates opening at 4:15 PM. The first 1,000 adults to enter the park will receive a Bobby Jenks Bobble Head Doll complements of Auto-Owners Insurance.

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Southern League Stories from June 18, 2009


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