Barons take game four marathon
May 6, 2006 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
Birmingham, Ala. - Birmingham's Micah Schnurstein singled to left field with the bases loaded to plate the winning run in the 14th inning as the Birmingham Barons defeated the Jacksonville Suns 6-5 Friday night in a four hour, twenty-one minute marathon at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
The Schnurstein hit ended a back and forth affair that saw five lead changes and featured ten pitchers, including Suns catcher A.J. Ellis pitching the final three innings to support a depleted bullpen.
With the Suns trailing Birmingham 3-2 in the sixth inning Jacksonville's Justin Ruggiano belted his second homerun of the season, a three run shot over the left field wall to give Jacksonville a 5-3 lead.
Birmingham tied the game in the eighth inning with two runs on two hits and two Jacksonville errors, knotting the game at five.
The game stayed tied until Schnurstein's hit, even though the Suns had multiple opportunities to score in the extra frames.
With Matt Kemp on first base with two out in the tenth inning, Craig Brazell crushed a ball that bounced off of the centerfield warning track and out of the ballpark for a ground rule double to put men on second and third. Andy LaRoche then lined out to centerfield to end the threat.
In the 12th inning Kemp stood on second base with one out and advanced to third base on a fly out. When the relay man bobbled the ball Kemp bolted for home and was thrown out on a close, controversial call at the plate to preserve the tied score.
In the 14th inning, Brian Sprout led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Wilkin Ruan. The next two Suns were out in order to end the scoring threat.
Suns catcher A.J. Ellis picked up the loss in his first professional pitching appearance while Birmingham's B.J. LaMura improved to 2-0 in the win.
The Suns and Barons meet for the final time in the first half Saturday night at 8:05 p.m. Jacksonville veteran right-hander Spike Lundberg will face Birmingham southpaw Ryan Rodriguez. Fans can follow the action in Jacksonville on AM 930 The Fox or online at www.milb.com or www.jaxsuns.com.
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Southern League Stories from May 6, 2006
- Mudcats see moves - Carolina Mudcats
- Schleicher assigned to Hudson Valley - Montgomery Biscuits
- Huntsville defeats Diamond Jaxx - Jackson Generals
- Cron pulls Barons off field, Suns named winners - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Lookouts defeat Smokies, 3-2 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Carolina takes 4 of 5 from Mobile - Mobile BayBears
- Carolina defeats Mobile - Carolina Mudcats
- Reese's Really NUTS Night ar Pringles Tonight - Jackson Generals
- Lookouts game notes - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Barons defeat Suns, 6-5, in 14 innings - Birmingham Barons
- Randel's knocks in game-winner in the ninth - Carolina Mudcats
- BayBears fall on ninth-inning single - Mobile BayBears
- Barons take game four marathon - Birmingham Barons
- Braves outlast Biscuits in extras, 8-7 - Montgomery Biscuits
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