SL1 Birmingham Barons

Barons Walk-Off Wahoos for Second Time in Series

Published on July 6, 2019 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Birmingham Barons (12-5, 39-47) captured their seventh consecutive victory at home as Joel Booker delivered a walk-off single in a 5-4 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (9-8, 47-40) on Saturday night at Regions Field.

Booker's two-out single to right, his lone hit of the night, represented Birmingham's second walk-off win in three games against Pensacola. Blake Rutherford sent a three-run homer to right in the bottom of the 10th inning of Thursday's win.

The Barons improved to 12-3 in their past 15 games and moved three games clear of second-place Montgomery in the North Division.

After he allowed a solo shot to Pensacola's Travis Blankenhorn to lead off the game, Barons starter Tanner Banks settled in for a quality start. The 27-year-old southpaw worked through the sixth and surrendered just one run on four hits. He struck out three but settled for a no-decision.

Birmingham leveled the score in the third when Gavin Sheets legged out an infield single to score Luis Gonzalez from third.

A three-run bottom of the seventh pushed the Barons ahead after Pensacola took a brief 2-1 lead. Damek Tomscha led off the frame with a double to left-center and touched home after Alfredo Gonzalez reached on a fielder's choice. A wild pitch brought home the frame's second run before an RBI-double off the bat of Blake Rutherford gave Birmingham a 4-2 advantage.

Rutherford collected three hits on the night to continue his impressive stretch of play. The White Sox No. 8 prospect ranks fourth among Southern League qualifiers in batting average since the start of June with a .352 clip at the plate.

Pensacola tied the game with a two-run shot from Brian Schales in the eighth to set the table for Booker's walk-off single in the ninth.

The Barons have five walk-off victories this season compared to four during the 2018 campaign.

Right-hander Danny Dopico (W, 2-1) collected his second win of the season in relief after he tossed a scoreless top half of the ninth. He lowered his ERA to 0.59 across his past 10 appearances out of the bullpen.

Right-handers Luis Martinez and Alec Hansen were also utilized in relief. Martinez logged a shutdown seventh, while Hansen struck out the side in the eighth but allowed a pair of runs.

The Barons and Blue Wahoos will continue their six-game set Sunday afternoon as Birmingham sends right-hander Lincoln Henzman (2-3, 4.81) to the mound against Pensacola left-hander Charlie Barnes (1-2, 3.19).

First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT at Regions Field and the game will be broadcast via WJQX-FM 100.5. Coverage will begin at 3:45 p.m. with the Coca-Cola Pregame Show.

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Southern League Stories from July 6, 2019


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