Barons Bats Stifled In Biloxi, 7-0

The Birmingham Barons (64-71) offense was completely shut down on Friday night in a 7-0 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers (80-57) at MGM Park. The Barons got a hit with their first batter of the night, but produced little else the rest of the game as they lost for the second straight night to begin the five-game series.

• Turning Point: Up 3-0 in the fifth, the Shuckers put the game out of reach with a big bottom of the fifth. A two-run double from Troy Stokes Jr. extended the lead to 5-0 against Birmingham starter Felix Paulino (L, 0-2). The next hitter, Weston Wilson, hit a two-run homer to left, ending Paulino's start with the Shuckers in front 7-0.
• Moments That Mattered: The Shuckers began the night's scoring with a solo homer from Blake Allemand off Paulino in the bottom of the second. Stokes' single an inning later plated another two runs, giving Biloxi the 3-0 lead, and it would only grow from there.
• Facts And Figures: Making his second start with the Barons, Paulino struggled. Over 4.0 innings, he gave up seven earned runs on seven hits with four walks and no strikeouts. Jake Johansen and Ian Clarkin each threw 2.0 scoreless relief innings to close out the night for the Barons pitchers.
• By The Numbers: Joel Booker led off the top of the first with a single for Birmingham against Biloxi starter Braden Webb (W, 1-0). That would prove to be the only Birmingham hit of the night. Webb was sharp over the rest of his outing, striking out 10 without giving up another hit as he and two relievers combined on the one-hitter. The Barons drew six walks in their second straight loss.
• Up Next: The series continues with a 6:35 p.m. matchup on Saturday night at MGM Park. Matt Tomshaw (6-7, 5.27) is set to start for the Barons against the Shuckers' Trey Supak (5-6, 3.12). Curt Bloom will have the call on 960 WERC News Radio and the iHeart Radio app.