BayBears take series opener in Birmingham
August 12, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Mobile BayBears News Release
Birmingham, Ala. â The BayBears took the series opener from the Birmingham Barons Tuesday night, 4-3, as they try to stay in the race in the West Division of the Southern League. Mobile gained a game on Birmingham, who entered the series 1.5 games in front of the BayBears. Both clubs currently trail first place Huntsville.
BayBears starter Duncan McAdoo picked up the win, throwing six solid frames. McAdoo (4-7) allowed three runs on five hits while striking out four Barons. After R.D. Spiehs and Jose Nunez each worked a shutout inning in relief, J.J. Trujillo earned his second save of the season as he threw the ninth, allowing just a single.
"The bullpen did a great job for us tonight," BayBears manager Craig Colbert said. "They got us nine outs on less than thirty pitches."
The BayBears scored twice in the top of the second inning to jump out 2-0. Danny Bravo drove in Humberto Quintero and Joe Gerber with a two-out double off of Barons starter Carlos Castillo. They added another run in the fourth as Gerber brought in Bobby Scales with his second hit of the game.
Birmingham closed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Former BayBears Gabe Alvarez hit a solo homerun and Jon Hamilton doubled home Scott Bikowski.
In the top of the sixth former Baron Humberto Quintero drove in Jon Knott with his third hit of the night, once again giving the BayBears a two-run lead at 4-2.
In the bottom of the inning Birmingham closed the gap to 4-3 on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Maldanado, scoring Jeremy Reed.
BayBears centerfielder Todd Donovan, who entered the game after Freddy Guzman was ejected for arguing a call at second base, may have saved the game for Mobile in the bottom of the eighth. Leading off the inning, Reed smashed a drive to deep center, sending Donovan to the wall. The sure triple died in Donovan's glove.
"I knew I was going to have to dive," Donovan said. "If I would have dove forward I would have broken my neck. So I slid on one knee, reached out my glove and the ball was there"
"That's the best catch I've seen all year," said Colbert. "You won't see a better catch in the big leagues tonight."
The BayBears and Barons will play game two of their series Wednesday night at 7:00. Chris Rojas (5-8; 3.97) will get the start on the mound for Mobile against Birmingham's Enemencio Pacheco (10-2; 2.66).
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Southern League Stories from August 12, 2003
- BayBears Edge Barons, 4-3 - Birmingham Barons
- BayBears take series opener in Birmingham - Mobile BayBears
- BayBears Sinon named Southern League's trainer of the year - Mobile BayBears
- Rays Shine On Smokies - Knoxville Smokies
- McCrotty deals, Suns win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- O-Rays Kick Off Home Stand With Win - Orlando Rays
- Barons Lefty Neal Cotts to Make Major League Debut Tonight - Birmingham Barons
- Sinon Named SL Trainer of the Year - SL1
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