Barons Sweep Doubleheader, 8-5 and 4-2
April 26, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
BIRMINGHAM, AL â The Birmingham Barons ripped out 20 hits and scored 12 runs, including a season-high eight runs in game one, on the day as they swept the Orlando Rays in a doubleheader in front of 7,661 fans on Friday evening at the Hoover Met. The Barons swept the four-game series and have now won a season-high five games in a row.
In the first game, the Barons got on the board early with two runs in the first and one in the third off O-Rays starter Jose Veras (0-2) to take an early 3-0 lead. In the first, Guillermo Reyes led off with a single and scored on a Danny Sandoval triple. Sandoval then trotted home on a Ryan Hankins RBI single to round out the first inning scoring. The lone run in the third came on a two-out double by Scott Bikowski that drove in Darron Ingram who had previously singled and stolen second.
The O-Rays scored a run in the fourth on a bases loaded double play to cut the score to 3-1 but the Barons would strike back with five runs in the sixth to break the game open. Juan Piniella, who cleared the bases with a three-run triple, delivered the big blow in the inning. Hankins and Sandoval later stroked back-to-back RBI doubles to round out the Barons scoring.
Barons starter Corwin Malone (2-1) picked up the win and was solid all night until he ran into some trouble in the seventh. Malone was one out away from registering the Barons first complete game of the season but gave up four runs on four hits before Jeff Bajenaru came in to finish off the game and pick up his first save of the season.
In the nightcap, the Barons got a strong outing from starter Brian West who picked up his first win of the season after throwing six scoreless innings and striking out three. The offense provided plenty of run support as they completed the sweep with a 4-2 victory. Gabe Alvarez was 2-for-2 with two RBIs on the night and Chad Durham went 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored.
The Barons take their five-game winning streak on the road as they begin an eight-game road trip that will take them to the Sunshine State of Florida for two four-game series versus Jacksonville and Orlando. Birmingham will send out LHP Neal Cotts (4-0, 0.86) to face RHP Heath Totten (1-2, 3.65) tomorrow night. Catch all the action on 101.1 FM with Curt Bloom.
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Southern League Stories from April 26, 2003
- Stars Beat G-Braves, 4-3 - Huntsville Stars
- BayBears take series opener in Chattanooga - Mobile BayBears
- Rays Fall to Smokies - Orlando Rays
- Suns stage comeback, win 7-1 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Stars and Bears Supspended by Rain - Huntsville Stars
- Barons Sweep Doubleheader, 8-5 and 4-2 - Birmingham Barons
- Barons Keep Orlando Sliding with Sweep - Orlando Rays
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