SL Birmingham Barons

Quero Conquers Lookouts in 7-5 Walk-Off Victory

August 16, 2023 - Southern League (SL)
Birmingham Barons News Release


In the midst of a hit streak Edgar Quero tallied two more in the form of a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth and a walk-off two-run shot in the bottom of the 10th. Quero finished the night 2-4 with two runs, four RBI and two home runs, which extended his one-base streak to 13 and hit streak to 12 games. The help from the youngster aided the Birmingham Barons to a 7-5 victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts.

From the first inning, the two foes made it known that it was going to be a close contest as starting pitchers dealt from the bump. The Barons starting RHP Cristian Mena kicked off the game with four three-up three-down innings pitched. Mena collected two of his total four strikeouts in the efficient innings.

With the dominant start from the mound, Quero decided to give the right-hander a run in the form of his first home run of the season. The 20-year-old switch hitter smacked the homer on the first pitch of the at-bat and delivered it over the right center field wall.

The momentous swing erupted the home team dugout, however, the Lookouts responded quickly in a two-run home run to snag the lead in the fifth. Despite Mena starting off the inning with a strikeout, Chattanooga collected a James Free double and then two batters later captured the lead with an Ivan Johnson homer.

Mena was able to escape the inning without further damage, and then gifted a game-tying run in the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Terrell Tatum tallied his lone RBI of the night off a sacrifice fly that scored Moises Castillo.

The contest would continue its back-and-forth in the sixth as the two teams would each score a run to bring it to 3-3. In the top of the sixth, Mena allowed his third and final earned run on a Rece Hinds sac fly that scored Jacob Hurtubise. Birmingham in the bottom of the inning collected their run on a hard-hit single from Tim Elko that scored Wilfred Veras. Elko smacked a 112 MPH RBI single into right field to bring home Veras after his first of two doubles on the night.

Mena entering his final inning of work wanted to end with the same efficiency he started. The right-hander did just that by sitting down the Lookouts in order and capping it off with his fourth strikeout. Mena finished the game with 7.0 IP allowing three hits, three earned runs, two walks and one home run to go with his four strikeouts.

Birmingham tried to distance themselves on the scoreboard as they added two runs in the bottom of the frame. In the seventh, the Barons earned their runs off Veras' second double of the night that scored Tatum and a sac fly from Quero that scored Bryan Ramos

The Barons accomplished the lead but not for long as in the top of the eighth the Lookouts notched the game at 5-apiece. Chattanooga smacked a two-run home run off of LHP Jonah Scolaro. Scolaro relieved Mena at the top of the inning and was able to get two quick outs before the homer that tied the game. The southpaw finished the night with one hit, two earned runs, one walk, a home run and two strikeouts in his lone inning of work.

Birmingham after the energy sucking home run was not able to muster any offense for the rest of regulation as they were sat down in order in back-to-back innings.

LHP Haylen Green relieved Scolaro in the ninth to handle the next two innings. Green capped off his night with zero hits, zero earned runs, two strikeouts and his first win of the season for the Barons.

The dominance from Green allowed for the Barons to be in prime position to walk-off the game in the bottom of the tenth, and that is exactly what they did. After Veras kicked off the inning with a fielder's choice that advanced Ramos to third, Quero walked up to the plate just needing a single. Quero already had hit the ball out of the park once in the game and on the fourth pitch of the at-bat smacked his second to clinch the victory over Chattanooga.

Birmingham accomplished the emotional victory on the aid from the youngster, who has been an excellent addition since being traded to the Chicago White Sox. The Barons now turn their efforts to Game 2 against the Lookouts as the White Sox No. 6 prospect, RHP Nick Nastrini, takes the bump for his third for the Barons.

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Southern League Stories from August 16, 2023


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