BayBears make history in Birmingham
July 10, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Mobile BayBears News Release
Birmingham, Ala. â The Mobile BayBears made history Thursday night against the Birmingham Barons scoring seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to erase a 6-1 deficit and win the game 8-6. With the win, the BayBears took sole possession of first place in the Western Division at 10-7.
"That's the biggest comeback in my career as a manager," BayBears manager Craig Colbert said amid a buzzing visiting clubhouse. "You get the first two guys on in the inning and you just figure someone is going to make the first out. We just kept on hitting."
The five-run deficit was the largest the BayBears have ever come back from in team history. The Barons used three pitchers in the ninth inning with each giving up at least one RBI base hit. Rob Purvis was first out of the Birmingham pen. Rico Washington led off the inning with a single, Jon Knott walked, and Jake Gautreau followed with another single to load the bases. Purvis then walked Bobby Scales cutting the lead to 6-2. Danny Bravo made things really interesting with a pinch-hit, bases-loaded double that scored three and made the score 6-5.
Scott Dunn was the next out of the Barons bullpen and he was greeted a game-tying double off the bat of Humberto Quintero.
"That was an unbelievable at bat," Colbert said. "He was just trying to hit the ball to the right side to move the runner over and he ends up with the tying double."
Then after the first out the inning was recorded on a strikeout, Freddy Guzman walked, putting runners on first and second. Dunn recorded another strikeout for out number two and was then lifted from the game for another reliever, Ryan Meaux. The lefty was brought in to face the left-handed batting Rico Washington. Making his second at bat of the inning, Washington burned the Barons with his second hit of the frame, scoring both runners and giving the BayBears their first lead of the night, 8-6.
"It's always tough to get two hits in an inning," said Colbert. "Rico did it against two different pitchers."
Rusty Tucker retired the Barons in order for his 23rd save of the season and was mobbed by teammates on the field after the most dramatic win in team history.
The BayBears and Barons will play Friday night in Birmingham at 7:05 in the finale of their short two-game series.
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