Barons Avoid Sweep with 6-4 Win

The Birmingham Barons (55-58) were able to break their five-game losing streak behind big nights at the plate from Zack Collins  and Danny Mendick, while taking advantage of errors, as they defeated the Mobile BayBears (56-55) 6-4 on Monday night at Regions Field.

• Moments That Mattered: In the bottom of the first inning the Barons were able to get on the board first when Trey Michalczewski  hit an RBI single scoring Collins from second, making the score 1-0. With runners on first and third in the bottom of the third, Collins was able to hit an RBI ground out which scored Luis Basabe, extending the Barons lead to 2-0. Then in the sixth inning Collins recorded his second double of the night and second RBI as he drove in Joel Booker  from first base, extending the Barons lead to 3-1. In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Barons extended their lead to 6-4 off of an RBI single by Mendick.
• He Said it: "It was good to get back in the win column tonight. Baseball is baseball and you just have to go out each day and execute and perform and tonight we did that," Mendick said.
• Turning Point: In the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied 3-3 and runners on first and third, Mendick was able to score on an error by Mobile first basemen Jose Rojas off a bunt by Basabe. One hitter later, the BayBears recorded another error, this time by catcher Jack Kruger, as Bryant Flete  scored to give the Barons a 5-3 lead.
• Quotable: "There is a lot of baseball left but hopefully we can go into Montgomery this next series and take it to them. The goal is to win so hopefully we can make our way back up in the standings," Mendick said.
• Facts And Figures: Bernardo Flores  turned in his eighth quality start in nine outings as a Baron. Collins' big night at the plate included two doubles, two RBIs, a walk, and a run scored. The RBI brings his total on the season to 54, which is second on the club.
• By The Numbers: Flores pitched 6.2 innings, allowed three runs on 10 hits with only one strikeout. Colton Turner  (W, 7-2) came in in relief and gave up a run on two hits with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings. José Ruiz (S, 11) came in in the top of the ninth inning and was able to preserve the lead, as he recorded his 11^th save of the season and finish the win.
• Up Next: The Barons begin a five-game series in Montgomery on Wednesday night against the Biscuits. Left-hander Tanner Banks  (2-3, 3.72) will get the start for the Barons while Brock Burke (2-1, 2.86) will make the start for the Biscuits. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. Curt Bloom will have the call on 960 WERC News Radio and the iHeart Radio app.