SL1 Birmingham Barons

Barons Split Twilight Doubleheader to Tie Series at Two

Published on June 7, 2017 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


KODAK, Tenn. - The Barons were able to salvage a doubleheader split for the second straight day against the Tennessee Smokies tonight. Matt Cooper started the first game on the mound and took the loss despite throwing a complete game, tossing six innings and giving up three runs on just three hits while walking three and striking out four. Jen-Ho Tseng earned the win for the Smokies in game one, as he weaved in and out of 5.2 innings giving up seven hits, two earned runs and four walks while striking out eight.

In game one, both teams were held scoreless until the bottom of the third when Tennessee was able to put three runs on the board. Jeffrey Baez led the frame off with a walk and was followed by a Trey Martin single. After Cooper induced a weak pop up to shallow center field, Charcer Burks singled to left scoring Baez from second and giving the Smokies the lead. Andrew Ely proceeded to hit another single to right, which plated both Martin and Burks when Mason Robbin's throw to Nick Basto went off the first baseman's glove, and Basto's attempt to throw home to cut down Burks sailed high, giving Tennessee a 3-0 lead.

The Barons would only score in the top of the sixth inning when Cameron Seitzer laced a leadoff double to right center field, his seventh two-bagger of the season and was brought around on a Mason Robbins single. Trailing by two, Alfredo Gonzalez followed up Robbins with a single of his own and Eddy Alvarez walked to load the bases for Jake Peter, fresh off the DL. Peter would draw a five pitch walk to give him an RBI and bring in Robbins from third. Basto flied out to right field to end the scoring threat, and that would be all the offense Birmingham could muster in the 3-2 defeat.

Game two was a low scoring affair once again even though both teams employed a relief pitcher in a spot start, with Aaron Bummer making his first start as a professional in the Barons win. Bummer went 2.2 innings and gave up one earned run on just 3 hits. The lone run he gave up in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Trey Martin scoring Carlos Penalver was the only run Tennessee would scratch across in the nightcap of the doubleheader.

Birmingham was able to get their first runs on the board in the top of the fifth when Hunter Jones drew a one out walk and was driven home on Toby Thomas' first home run of the season on a blast to dead left field. The road team would add an insurance run in the sixth as well, with Eddy Alvarez leading off the inning with his ninth double of the year and was brought around by the very next batter, Jake Peter, on a single to right. Ian Hamilton slammed the door on the Smokies in his second inning of relief work in the seventh, as he earned his first save on the year in the win.

The Barons will be back in action in the series finale against Tennessee tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT. Left-hander Jordan Guerrero will take the ball for the Barons and righty Preston Morrison will get the ball for the Smokies. Curt Bloom will bring you all the action starting with the Coca-Cola pregame show starting at 5:50 p.m. on WERC 105.5 FM and the iHeart Radio app.

For ticket information, game schedule, promotions calendar or for additional information about Regions Field, call (205) 988-3200, or visit www.barons.com, www.facebook.com/birminghambarons or on Twitter: @bhambarons.

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Southern League Stories from June 7, 2017


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