Day, Allen Lead Barons to 7-4 Win
Published on August 21, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Brandon Allen collected three hits, including a key home run, and Dewon Day earned his first career win as a starter in Birmingham's 7-4 triumph over the Huntsville Stars Thursday night. The win was the third straight for Birmingham (70-58, 29-28), giving the home squad the series win in this best-of-five tilt.
With the Barons clinging to a 3-2 lead in the third, Allen followed a one-out walk by Javier Castillo with a mammoth home run to right field, his ninth of the season, giving Birmingham some much needed insurance runs and a 5-2 advantage.
Victor Mercedes smacked a solo homer an inning later, his 12th of the year, to give the Barons a 6-2 lead. That would chase Huntsville starter David Welch (11-3), who entered the game as one of the leading Southern League pitchers in both wins and earned run average. He was tagged for six runs on 10 hits over just four innings of work, walking a pair and striking out four.
Steve Bray, his replacement, was greeted rudely by the Birmingham offense an inning later. Allen was the first man to face him and reached on an infield single to short. He stole second and later came around on a Miguel Negron RBI single that pushed the edge to 7-2.
The added runs would be crucial, as Huntsville (68-61, 27-32) mounted a furious rally in the ninth off reliever Fernando Hernandez. With one out in the ninth, Alcides Escobar reached on a double to left and scored on a two-out single by Mat Gamel. After a Freddy Parejo base hit, Cole Gillespie brought in Gamel with a single that made it 7-4.
Birmingham closer Jon Link entered from the bullpen with two men on base and recorded a swinging strikeout of Chris Errecart to end the threat and the ballgame. Link recorded his Minor League Baseball-best 34th save, which is just two away from tying the Barons and league record.
The late comeback attempt by the Stars nearly derailed Day's (1-6) attempt for his first professional win as a starter. He tossed a season-high five innings, allowing a pair of runs on three hits and two walks. He struck out four in this, his 11th start (12th game total) since joining the team in mid-June. Prior to arriving in Birmingham, he had made 162 career relief appearances and compiled just a 5-15 Minor League record out of the bullpen. He was also 0-1 in 13 games in the White Sox bullpen last season.
The Barons spotted him a lead early. Negron led off the home half of the first with a double down the left field line and then scored on a C.J. Lang double. After a Mercedes single and a pop out, Castillo legged out a two-run triple that made it a 3-0 game.
Day allowed a solo homer by Lorenzo Cain in the second, and a triple and an RBI groundout led to Huntsville's second run of the game an inning later.
John Lujan tossed three perfect innings to relieve Day and keep the Huntsville offense in check, recording a pair of strikeouts in the process.
Allen's 3-4 day paced the Birmingham attack. Negron, Mercedes, Lang, Castillo, and Robbie Hudson each tallied a two-hit game. The Barons had 15 total hits, including five doubles, a triple, and a pair of long balls.
Seven different Stars collected a hit apiece.
The Barons will look for their ninth win in 12 games in Friday's series finale with the Stars. Birmingham is expected to send right-hander Lucas Harrell (3-3) to the mound, while Huntsville will counter with fellow righty Alex Periard (1-3). First pitch is slated for 7:05 pm.
Southern League Stories from August 21, 2008
- Day, Allen Lead Barons to 7-4 Win - Birmingham Barons
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- Huntsville Comeback Bid Falls Short in Ninth - Huntsville Stars
- Lookouts Score Nine Unanswered Runs for Win - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Lookouts Blast Suns, 9-3 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Bark at the Park - Jackson Generals
- USA Today MiLB Player of the Year Voting - Huntsville Stars
- Andrew Miller, Carolina Suspended Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Biscuits get back in win column, 6-4 - Montgomery Biscuits
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