Gartrell Powers Barons to 12-4 Win
Published on June 22, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
HOOVER, Ala. -- Stefan Gartrell homered twice and drove in seven runs in the Birmingham Barons' 12-4 win over the visiting Jacksonville Suns Sunday afternoon. Gartrell became the first Baron to post that many RBI in a game since Danny Bravo accomplished the same feat in a contest at Carolina in 1999.
After Jacksonville grabbed a 3-0 lead through the top of the second against Barons starter Kyle McCulloch (5-6), Gartrell took over. He crushed a three-run homer to left-center to tie the game in the home half of the second, and he smashed an opposite-field grand slam down the right field line in the fourth that gave the Barons (44-32, 4-2) a 7-3 advantage they would not relinquish.
Gartrell's grand slam was the team's first since Victor Mercedes clubbed one of the walk-off variety against Mobile last August. He also became the second Baron to post two homers in the same game this season, mimicking Miguel Negron's performance from May 19.
Mercedes added to the Birmingham offensive outburst in the seventh with a three-run home run of his own, his fourth of the season.
Sunday's result was a vastly different one for Jacksonville (35-41, 2-4) starter Cody White, who had held the Barons to just two runs in his seven innings of work in the series opening match-up McCulloch on Tuesday. Whereas it was the latter who was hit hard in that 7-2 Suns win, it was the Jacksonville hurler who was roughed up this time around. White (2-1) was tagged for eight earned runs on 11 hits in just four innings of work. He walked two and failed to record a strikeout.
In the Barons' loss to Jacksonville Tuesday, the bottom third of the order was 0-for-22 against White. This time, though, those six batters combined for 13 of the team's 15 hits, and the middle third of the order (Micah Schnurstein, Cole Armstrong, and Gartrell) went 10-for-12 with eight runs batted in.
After allowing the three early runs on five hits, McCulloch cruised after the second inning, allowing just three more hits and no runs over the next five innings. He did not record a walk and fanned a season-high seven batters in his eighth quality start of the year.
Armstrong and Eric Hollis each chipped in with RBI singles during the contest, and Schnurstein broke out of a 5-for-47 slump with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate. Armstrong and Gartrell each tallied three hits, and Robbie Hudson added a pair. Seven different Barons scored at least one run, and five scored multiple times in the slugfest, which was the team's first double-digit scoring output since besting Montgomery by a 12-4 score on June 7.
The Barons will have a day off on Monday and then hit the road for a six-game series at Mississippi that begins Tuesday night at 7:05 pm. Birmingham right-hander Justin Cassel (5-3) will face off against a starter to be determined.
Southern League Stories from June 22, 2008
- Gamel Gets Going Again in Stars Win - Huntsville Stars
- Smokies take series over BayBears with 7-3 win - Knoxville Smokies
- Gartrell Powers Barons to 12-4 Win - Birmingham Barons
- Biscuits remain winless at home during the day - Montgomery Biscuits
- Gartrell Slams Barons Past Suns on Sunday - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Lookouts Win Series Finale, 10-1 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Stars Transaction - Huntsville Stars
- Biscuits receive David Price - Montgomery Biscuits
- Montgomery Biscuits Roster Transaction - Montgomery Biscuits
- Biscuits fall just short in 11 innings, lose 9-8 - Montgomery Biscuits
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