Tyler Neslony Powers Birmingham to a 7-3 Victory
May 29, 2022 - Southern League (SL)
Birmingham Barons News Release
The Sunday series finale between the Chattanooga Lookouts and Birmingham Barons showcased just how lethal Birmingham's offense can be. Specifically, one man, in particular, lifted the Barons unlike anyone else, but more on that later. For the second time this season, Scott Blewett took the hill when facing the Lookouts. The last time the 6'6" righty faced Chattanooga was his Barons' debut on April 14th. Although he lasted just two innings, Blewett pitched formidably then and did so again this weekend.
However, Blewett's day did not arrive without a blemish, as the bottom of the second inning proved to be a difficult one. Birmingham allowed three hits in the frame, an error, a walk, and a balk. Consequently, Chattanooga quickly took a three-nothing lead, albeit only one of those runs was declared earned due to the fielding fault. On the flip side, Barons' hitters struggled out of the gate but responded quickly to the trouble in the top of the third.
Following back-to-back leadoff knocks, Birmingham cracked into the score column thanks to an RBI groundout by Tyler Neslony. Very similarly, Birmingham reached base early in the fourth, then scored their second run courtesy of a sacrifice fly out by Jagger Rusconi. Finally, in the sixth, the Barons equaled the game up at three apiece thanks to a towering home run by Tyler Neslony, making it his eighth of the year.
On the mound, beyond the second inning, Blewett threw a great game once again. He ended with 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, and three punchout. However, the Syracuse native exited just before he had the chance to earn the victory. For the third time of the game, Tyler Neslony stepped up to the plate and drove in a run. Like the time before, though, Neslony launched a ball well over the fence for a no-doubt 2-run home run.
Manager Justin Jirschele went with a surprising move out of the bullpen by bringing in Steven Moyers. Moyers is usually a starting pitcher, and one of the Barons' better ones at that. His success did not waiver despite the different setting, though, as Moyers ended with 1.2 innings of perfection. From there, Birmingham's big bats did not cool off, as they scored their seventh run of the game in the eighth frame. Doing so, meant the Barons scraped across a run in five of the six previous innings.
The two biggest takeaways from Sunday's victory are that when Barons' pitching and hitting are rolling concurrently, they're an elite team. Secondly, Tyler Neslony is a somewhat overlooked, but key contributor in the Barons' lineup. On the day, Neslony ended with 2 hits, both home runs, two runs, and four runs batted in.
Southern League Stories from May 29, 2022
- Diaz Drives Home Five in Series Finale Victory - Biloxi Shuckers
- Smokies Split Doubleheader Series Finale in Madison - Knoxville Smokies
- Rangel Logs Quality Start, M-Braves Top Blue Wahoos 7-2 in Series Finale - Mississippi Braves
- Trash Pandas Rally for Doubleheader Split - Rocket City Trash Pandas
- Lookouts Can't Quite Rally - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Tyler Neslony Powers Birmingham to a 7-3 Victory - Birmingham Barons
- Conine Homers in 7-2 Loss to M-Braves - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Barons Survive Late Lookouts Push, Win 8-7 - Birmingham Barons
- A Five-Run First Vaults Rocket City over Smokies, 8-1 - Knoxville Smokies
- Walk-Off Wild Pitch Sends Shuckers to Third Straight Win - Biloxi Shuckers
- Black Barons Snap Choo-Choos' Winning Streak - Chattanooga Lookouts
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