Comeback Kids: Barons Secure Third Comeback Victory in Four Games

In the past five days, the Birmingham Barons have played four games in which they have come back from being down to win three. The most recent coming in a 11-8 victory in Game 2 against the Chattanooga Lookouts. Birmingham secured the victory with a seven run seventh inning to knock off the Lookouts.

The Lookouts were the first to jump on the scoreboard for the second straight game with a leadoff home run by Blake Dunn. Dunn collected his second homer in as many games on his way to a 4-5 night at the plate with three runs, two RBI and a triple. Chattanooga got the first big swing of the night, but the Barons answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning.

The Barons scored their run on a passed ball that scored Terrell Tatum. Tatum was in position for the passed ball because of a six-pitch walk, stealing second base and ground out that advanced him to third base.

In the second, it was more of the same from the two foes as both teams collected a pair of runs in their respective frames. The Lookouts secured their runs on one swing of the bat from Jose Torres, who smacked a home run with Andy Yerzy on-base. Chattanooga smacked their second home run in as many innings, however, Birmingham answered with their one and only of the game.

The Barons collected their runs off the bat of Xavier Fernandez, who has been scorching hot in the month of July. Fernandez smacked his second home run of the month to tie the ballgame in the bottom of the second, but that is not all that he has accomplished this month so far. The catcher/first baseman currently bears a .529 batting average with five doubles and 11 RBI, to go with his two home runs.

The scoring cooled off for two innings as the duo were able to control each other. However, the Lookouts and their third ranked offense in runs scored picked up the scoring again in the fifth. Chattanooga collected a sole run off a single from Francisco Urbaez that scored Dunn for the one run lead. The Lookouts scoring did not stop there as they packed on four runs in the sixth inning.

In the top of the sixth inning the Barons opted to go to Chicago White Sox No. 15 prospect RHP Jared Kelley. Kelley, in his first action as a Baron in 2023, underperformed as he allowed four earned runs on two hits and three strikeouts, in his 0.2 IP. Luckily for the Barons LHP Andrew Perez was able to escape the inning with no more damage done.

The southpaw brought his confidence into the top of the seventh inning, sitting down the Lookouts in four batters. Perez finished his outing after the top of the seventh to complete his 1.1 IP, where he allowed one hit, zero runs, one walk and struck out one.

The efforts from the bump aided the Barons bats enough time to get ready for the uphill climb they found themselves in. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Birmingham exploded for seven runs and a two-run lead.

In the seventh, the Barons collected their first run on a Luis Mieses bloop single that scored Jose Rodriguez. Birmingham then collected two more runs on a Yoelqui Cespedes ground ball and a Fernandez single. The Barons tied the ballgame off with a single from Moises Castillo that scored Cespedes and Adam Hackenberg. Tatum then captured the lead with a two-RBI double that scored Fernandez and Castillo.

The Barons added an insurance run in the eighth off a dropped third strike that scored Bryan Ramos in the process. Birmingham then found themselves in the driver's seat to close out the game in the top of the ninth. The Barons handed the ball to LHP Haylen Green for the save opportunity.

In Green’s fourth save opportunity of the year, the left-hander secured his spot as the co-leader of saves with four, LHP Ben Holmes also collected four saves in his time with the Barons this season. Green sat down Chattanooga in three batters for an efficient 10 pitch outing.

Birmingham collected its second straight comeback victory and third in five days as well as sitting 2-0 in the series thus far. The Barons now turn their efforts to Game 3 as RHP Cristian Mena is in line for his 18th start of the season.