Veras and Matthews Home Runs Lead Barons to 7-2 Win over Tennessee on Saturday Night
Wilfred Veras and Jason Matthews hit two-run home runs each as the Birmingham Barons won 7-2 over the Tennessee Smokies before 3,486 at Regions Field on Saturday night. Five Barons pitchers only gave up one earned run in the win. Winning pitcher Jordan Mikel (4-1, 4.29) pitched 2.1 innings, giving
Wilfred Veras and Jason Matthews hit two-run home runs each as the Birmingham Barons won 7-2 over the Tennessee Smokies before 3,486 at Regions Field on Saturday night. Five Barons pitchers only gave up one earned run in the win. Winning pitcher Jordan Mikel (4-1, 4.29) pitched 2.1 innings, giving up two hits, one earned run and a walk with a strikeout. Starting pitcher Noah Schultz (0-2, 1.59) pitched 3.2 innings giving up one hit, no earned walks, and two walks and two strikeouts.
The Barons scored first in the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Veras hit his two-run home run and the Barons took the early 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Matthews hit his two-run home run and the Barons took the 4-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, Luis Verdugo's RBI single scored Jonathon Long and the Barons still led 4-1. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Veras walked, Nick Podkul singled to center field, and Michael Turner walked to load the bases. With two outs, Adam Hackenberg singled to center field scoring Veras and Podkul. On the same play, the Smokies' center fielder made an error where the ball got past him, and Turner scored from first base. With the three runs, the Barons took the 7-1 lead.
In the top of the seventh inning, Felix Stevens walked, Raivaj Garcia, walked, and Christian Franklin grounded out to shortstop to second, but a wild throw by the Barons sent Stevens home on the error. The Barons still led 7-2 late in the game.
Veras had the big game for the Barons with the home run, hit 14th of the season, two RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk in the win. Podkul had two hits and a run scored, and Hackenberg had the big single, and two RBIs. Matthews hit his two-run home run, his fourth of the season.
Next, the Barons will play game 6 of the six-game series with the Smokies. The Barons lead the series three wins to two for the Smokies. RHP Jairo Iriarte (3-7, 3.96) will take the mound for the Barons on Sunday.