Basabe's Blast Sets Tone as Barons Top Smokies
August 23, 2019 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
KODAK, Tenn. - Luis Basabe jump-started the offense with a first-inning home run as the Birmingham Barons (32-26, 59-68) topped the Tennessee Smokies by a 9-3 final Friday night at Smokies Stadium.
Basabe, whom MLB Pipeline ranks as the No. 8 prospect in the White Sox system, delivered a solo blast when he turned on a 1-2 blast and deposited it over the fence in right-center field. It marked the third home run of the season for Basabe, who entered Friday night mired in a 1-for-18 stretch at the plate.
The Barons scored three runs in the second and three more in the third to take control of the game. A two-RBI single off the bat of Luis Gonzalez and run-scoring single from Alfredo Gonzalez allowed Birmingham to grab a commanding 7-0 lead after three innings.
Alfredo Gonzalez, along with Zach Remillard, chipped in three-hit performances as part of an 12-hit night for Birmingham.
The Barons have recorded at least 10 hits in five of their past six games and own a 4-2 mark in that span.
The early offensive display backed a strong combined effort from Lincoln Henzman and Kodi Medeiros as the Barons held Tennessee's bats in check.
Henzman struck out three across three scoreless frames before the right-hander was removed from the game. Medeiros (W, 4-8) entered in relief and allowed just one run across three innings of work. The 23-year-old southpaw surrendered just one hit and struck out a pair to earn his fourth win of the season.
The Barons tacked on two more runs in the eighth courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Blake Rutherford and an error.
Tyler Johnson sealed the win for Birmingham after the right-hander retired all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings.
Right-hander Chih-Wei Hu (L, 0-1) suffered the loss for the Smokies in his Tennessee debut as the former big-leaguer (Tampa Bay Rays) surrendered seven runs (four earned) on eight hits across three innings of work.
The Barons and Smokies will continue their five-game series Saturday night as Birmingham sends left-hander Bernardo Flores (3-7, 3.12) to the mound against Tennessee left-hander Luis Lugo (5-0, 3.33).
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT at Smokies Stadium and the game will be broadcast via WJQX-FM 100.5.
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