BayBears Wave Goodbye to 10-Game Skid
August 5, 2009 - Southern League (SL1)
Mobile BayBears News Release
HOOVER, Ala. - With 18 hits, five stolen bases and a new-look lineup, the BayBears put to bed the misery of a 10-game losing streak with a 9-5 series-ending victory over the Birmingham Barons on Wednesday night at Regions Park.
Evan Frey jumpstarted the BayBears (53-57, 16-24) with a lead-off single in the first and immediately stole second. Mark Hallberg bounced into a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a hit-and-run single off the bat of Pedro Ciriaco while Pete Clifford knocked Hallberg home with an infield hit.
In the second, the BayBears climbed on top of Johnnie Lowe (0-1) once again as the right-hander made his Double-A debut. Cyle Hankerd, down to seventh in the order from his usual spot in the middle, singled with one out to set up Ricardo Sosa as he blasted his 11th tater of the year. Sosa was batting eighth, also down from his typical spot in the middle.
After the Sosa dinger, Chris Rahl tripled while Frey was hit by a pitch. Rahl touched the dish after a single by Hallberg while Ciriaco grounded out to bring home Frey. The BayBears added to their advantage in the third with three singles including Rahl's to knock in Yunesky Sanchez.
Barry Enright (7-7) was strong over six scoreless frames as he held the powerful Barons (72-37, 24-16) to just six hits. Birmingham didn't score until the seventh when Jordan Norberto was touched for four runs on four hits. John Shelby doubled home a tally while C.J. Retherford knocked in a pair with a two-bagger and scored on a base hit by Dayan Viciedo.
In the meantime, the BayBears kept buying insurance against the Barons' bullpen as Sosa and Rahl picked up successive run-scoring singles in the top of the seventh. Orlando Mercado brought home another in the eighth. Birmingham's scariest threat came in the home half of the eighth when they loaded the bags with two outs against Leyson Septimo.
Septimo hit David Cook to force in a run and Josh Ellis (S, 1) from the bullpen. Ellis got Viciedo to pop out to finish the eighth, and then hung a zero in the ninth.
The Mobile BayBears have sent nearly 100 players to the major leagues. They'll take their road show to Montgomery on Thursday night as they battle the Biscuits at 7:05 with southpaw Tom Layne making his BayBear debut. The BayBears return home on Wednesday, August 12 to take on the Huntsville Stars. For Hank Aaron Stadium tickets, call (251) 479-BEAR or log on to www.mobilebaybears.com.
Southern League Stories from August 5, 2009
- BayBears Wave Goodbye to 10-Game Skid - Mobile BayBears
- Smokies Close Out Mudcats with 6-4 Win Wednesday - Knoxville Smokies
- Braves Hand Biscuits Finale - Mississippi Braves
- Biscuits Grab Series with 6-3 Win in Finale - Montgomery Biscuits
- Mudcats Fall in Series Finale - Carolina Mudcats
- Bastardo Brilliant in 7-2 Win - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Gordon Beckham named AL Rookie of the Month - Birmingham Barons
- Suns take final game from Stars - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Suns' five-run fifth finishes off Stars - Huntsville Stars
- Horst Joins Carolina, Starts Tonight - Carolina Mudcats
- Stone Reassigned; Allison Promoted - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Wild Pitch Lifts Mudcats - Carolina Mudcats
- Smokies fall in shoutout Tuesday night, 9-8 - Knoxville Smokies
- Diamond Jaxx sweep double-header from Lookouts - Jackson Generals
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