SL1 Birmingham Barons

Barons Top Mudcats, 4-1

Published on April 12, 2003 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


BIRMINGHAM, AL – The Birmingham Barons (3-4) returned home to the Hoover Met and snapped their four-game losing streak by beating the Carolina Mudcats (6-2) 4-1 in front of 4,438 fans on Friday evening.

Barons starter Neal Cotts (2-0) was solid in his second start of the season as he tossed five scoreless innings to pick up the victory. On the night, Cotts struck out 10 batters and only walked three while giving up two hits. In his first two starts as a Baron, Cotts has struck out 16 batters in ten innings. Last year he punched out 178 batters in 28 games for Single-A Modesto (A's).

The Barons offense provided all the runs needed when they plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Gabe Alvarez and Scott Bitkowski hit back-to-back singles and later scored on a fielding error by the shortstop and a sacrifice fly by Josh Shaffer. Insurance runs were added on by Guillermo Reyes who drove in Carlos Maldonaldo with a sacrifice fly in the sixth and Bitkowski with a run-scoring single in the eighth.

The lone run for the Mudcats came in the visiting half of the sixth when Matt Padgett doubled off of Brian West to score Miguel Cabrera.

Cotts picks up his second win in as many starts and Mudcats starter Marty Barnett (0-1) was tagged with the loss. Barons closer Royce Ring picked up his first save of the season after pitching the ninth.

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Southern League Stories from April 12, 2003


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