SL1 Birmingham Barons

Rivera's Late Hit Guides Barons Past Smokies

Published on July 1, 2019 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


KODAK, Tenn. - Laz Rivera delivered a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning as the Birmingham Barons (35-46) came from behind to defeat the Tennessee Smokies (38-43) by a 5-4 final Monday night at Smokies Stadium.

Rivera, whose two-out single erased a 4-3 deficit at the time, recorded his first RBI of the season against left-handed pitching as he sent a liner up the middle against Smokies southpaw Wyatt Short (L, 3-1).

Rivera's first 15 RBI of the 2019 campaign came against right-handers. His late heroics allowed Barons newcomer Jake Elliott (W, 1-0) to earn the win in his Double-A debut.

Elliott, who earned a promotion from Hi-A Winston-Salem on Saturday, struck out a pair across two innings of work in relief of Barons starter Tanner Banks. He allowed one run on four hits.

Banks, meanwhile, settled for a no-decision surrendered three runs (all earned) on six hits and struck out four through five innings. The 27-year-old southpaw has exited his 10 starts this season with the lead just twice. He departed Monday's game locked in a 3-3 tie.

The Barons provided Banks with an early lead as run-scoring singles from Gavin Sheets and Nick Madrigal put Birmingham ahead 2-0 after two innings.

Sheets, the No. 17 prospect in the White Sox system according to MLB Pipeline, owns the Southern League's longest active on-base streak at 19 games, which includes a two-hit performance Monday.

Madrigal reached base three times, including a pair of walks, and raised his on-base percentage at the Double-A level to .430.

After Rivera's two-run single in the eighth put the Barons ahead 5-4, left-hander Hunter Schryver took over and worked through a bases-loaded jam in the bottom half of the frame. He induced a soft fly out from PJ Higgins to seal a 12-pitch at-bat against the Smokies' third baseman.

Schryver departed with nobody out in the ninth after he walked the leadoff batter. Right-hander Codi Heuer recorded a strikeout and two soft groundouts to seal the win as the former Wichita State standout collected his second save of the season. He stranded the potential tying run on second.

The Barons and Smokies will continue their four-game set Tuesday night as Birmingham sends right-hander Lincoln Henzman (2-2, 4.60) to the mound against Tennessee right-hander Alex Lange (1-0, 2.25).

First pitch in Game 3 of the series is set for 6 p.m. CT at Smokies Stadium and the game will be broadcast via WJQX-FM 100.5.

Check out the Birmingham Barons Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Southern League Stories from July 1, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central