SL1 Birmingham Barons

Tomshaw Tames BayBears as Barons Earn Series Win

Published on June 28, 2019 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Matt Tomshaw delivered a quality start, while Luis Gonzalez dazzled with a stellar diving grab in center as the Birmingham Barons (32-46) topped the Mobile BayBears (31-46) by a 4-3 final Friday night at Regions Field.

The Barons, winners of three straight, collected their first series victory since May 16-20 when they took 3 of 5 games from visiting Mississippi.

The veteran left-hander Tomshaw (W, 3-4) wiggled out of numerous jams throughout the night. Mobile placed at least one runner in scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but managed to plate just a single run.

Tomshaw, who struck out eight in the victory, logged seven innings of three-run ball after a rocky start in which he allowed a solo shot in each of the first two frames.

Gonzalez's full-extension snag in center to help preserve a 4-3 lead at the time helped Tomshaw work through the sixth. The White Sox No. 9 prospect sprinted to his left on a sharp fly ball off the bat of Mobile's Jhoan Urena before he laid out for the sparkling grab.

Gonzalez also added a single and has hit safely in three straight contests.

The Barons backed Tomshaw's impressive start with plenty of early offense. Birmingham scored four runs in the first two innings to provide the 30-year-old southpaw with an early advantage.

Gavin Sheets recorded an RBI-single in the opening frame and Ti'Quan Forbes followed with a run-scoring base knock of his own to put the Barons ahead.

Blake Rutherford continued his dominant stretch during the month of June with an RBI-single in the second. Sheets tallied his second RBI of the game with a second-inning single, as well.

Rutherford, who reached base twice in the win, owns a .368/.406/.474 slash line across 25 games in June and has hit safely in seven of his past eight contests.

Codi Heuer locked down his first save at the Double-A level after the right-hander worked out of a jam in the ninth. Heuer, protecting a one-run lead, loaded the bases before he induced a 4-6-3 double play to seal the win.

The Barons and BayBears will conclude their season series Saturday night when Birmingham Barons left-hander John Parke (0-0, 6.00) to the mound in his Regions Field debut against Mobile right-hander Zack Kelly (1-2, 2.70).

First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast via WJQX-FM 100.5 and coverage will begin at 6:15 p.m. with the Coca-Cola Pregame Show.

Saturday's contest will mark the final regular-season meeting between the Barons and BayBears with Mobile set for a move to Huntsville as the Rocket City Trash Pandas ahead of the 2020 season.

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Southern League Stories from June 28, 2019


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