SL1 Birmingham Barons

Late Offense Lifts Barons to 4-3 Win

Published on June 30, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


HOOVER, Ala. -- The Birmingham Barons scratched out two eighth-inning runs to break a tie and then held off a ninth-inning Mobile rally to claim a 4-3 win Monday night. It was the Barons' (47-36, 7-6) second straight win after losing four straight games for just the second time this year.

With the game knotted at 2-2 entering the bottom of the eighth, Miguel Negron led off the home half of the inning with a sharp single to center field. Victor Mercedes then ripped a single to right, sending Negron to third and putting runners at the corners.

With Javier Colina at the plate, Mercedes took off for second base, intending to get caught in a rundown that would give Negron the chance to score. As Mercedes dodged the pickle and dove back into first, first baseman Brandon Byrne dropped the throw and Negron scampered home for the go-ahead run.

After Colina flew out and the BayBears (35-48, 6-7) made a pitching change, Mercedes stole second base and later moved to third on a wild pitch. He would then score on a Ricardo Nanita single that gave the Barons a 4-2 edge.

Birmingham had to dig itself out of an early two-run hole for the second straight game. Both teams traded scoreless innings until the fifth, when Mobile used four hits and an error to score twice off reliever Ryan O'Malley (2-2) and take a 2-0 lead.

The Barons finally broke through against BayBears starter Tony Barnette (4-7) in the sixth. After allowing just a pair of hits through the first five innings, Barnette allowed a lead-off single and a walk to open the home half of the frame. After both men moved up on a wild pitch, Colina rapped an RBI infield single and Stefan Gartrell followed with a game-tying sacrifice fly.

Dewon Day started on the mound for the Barons and had his best outing of the year, tossing three flawless innings to open the game. The converted reliever was lifted for O'Malley to start the fourth, and the latter allowed two runs on seven hits in five innings, striking out a pair.

Mobile tried to rally late off closer Jon Link, turning a one-out ninth-inning walk into a run that pulled the BayBears within 4-3. Link, though, got a flyout to end the game for his league-best 21st save of the year.

The two team will square off in the second game of this four-game series Tuesday night with a 7:05 pm first pitch. Southpaw Aaron Poreda (0-2) will start for Birmingham and will be opposed by righty Adam Howard (6-5).

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Southern League Stories from June 30, 2008


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