Sheets Plays Hero as Barons Top Smokies
August 26, 2019 - Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
KODAK, Tenn. - Gavin Sheets delivered a go-ahead three-run homer and reached base four times as the Birmingham Barons (33-28, 60-70) topped the Tennessee Smokies (21-43, 54-79) by an 8-5 final in comeback fashion Monday night at Smokies Stadium.
Sheets, whose three-run blast in the eighth broke a 5-5 tie at the time, also walked three times and scored a pair of runs in the victory. The go-ahead home run marked his team-leading 16th of the season and his league-leading 77th, 78th and 79th RBI of the campaign.
Sheets' go-ahead homer came after Birmingham tied the game earlier in the frame courtesy of a bases-loaded walk issued to Zach Remillard and a sac fly off the bat of Blake Rutherford.
Tennessee's Tommy Nance (L, 2-5) suffered the loss in relief after the right-hander allowed four runs (all earned) and walked four in one inning of work. Right-hander Oscar de la Cruz surrendered the go-ahead blast to Sheets, although two of the runs were charged to Nance.
The Barons drew 12 walks in the victory, which represented a season high. The win also marked Birmingham's sixth of the season (6-53) when it trails after seven innings of play.
Six Barons players reached base multiple times in the contest. Four players - Sheets, Remillard, Joel Booker and Luis Valenzuela - did so three times.
Birmingham jumped out to a 3-1 lead after RBI-doubles from Valenzuela and Damek Tomscha before the Smokies fought back with four unanswered runs to take a 5-3 advantage.
Barons starter Blake Battenfield settled for a no-decision after the 25-year-old right-hander surrendered three runs (all earned) on seven hits in five innings of work. Battenfield walked just one batter and struck out three before he turned the game over to right-hander Tyler Johnson out of the bullpen.
Johnson (W, 1-0) collected his first win in relief with a pair of scoreless frames. He allowed just one batter to reach base and struck out a pair.
Right-hander Codi Heuer locked down his team-high ninth save of the campaign with a 1-2-3 final frame.
Fueled by their five-run eighth inning, the Barons evened the series against Tennessee at two games apiece and set up a decisive rubber match Tuesday night. Birmingham will send left-hander Tanner Banks (3-7, 4.50) to the mound against Smokies right-hander Erick Leal (3-4, 4.66).
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT at Smokies Stadium and the game will be broadcast via WJQX-FM 100.5.
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