Barons Drop Generals in Series Finale, 7-5

Polo's first homer powers Birmingham to series win over Jackson

Tito Polo knocked out his first homer of the year, a two-run shot in the eighth inning that proved the difference in a 7-5 win on Sunday. (Michael Wade)

By John McClung

May 27, 2018

Tito Polo' s eighth-inning homer sealed a lengthy battle of the bullpens as the Birmingham Barons (22-27) took the rubber game from the Jackson Generals (28-21) by a score of 7-5 on Sunday afternoon at the Ballpark at Jackson.  Turning Points: Trailing 3-1 in the top of the sixth, Birmingham bats

Tito Polo' s eighth-inning homer sealed a lengthy battle of the bullpens as the Birmingham Barons (22-27) took the rubber game from the Jackson Generals (28-21) by a score of 7-5 on Sunday afternoon at the Ballpark at Jackson.

Turning Points: Trailing 3-1 in the top of the sixth, Birmingham bats came alive as Trey Michalczewski crushed a double off the left field wall to drive Eloy Jiménez home from third, cutting the deficit to 3-2 with two outs to give. Jameson Fisher walked on the next at bat, setting up a two-run single off the bat of Bryant Flete to put the Barons ahead 4-3. Casey Schroeder walked to load the bases for Polo, who grounded into a force out but not before plating Fisher for a 5-3 Birmingham lead.
Moments That Mattered: Following Jackson's two-run answer in the bottom of the seventh, the two sides entered the top of the eighth knotted at 5-5. With two outs and Schroeder on first, Polo hammered out his first homer of the year over the left field wall, propelling the Barons to a 7-5 win.
Facts and Figures: Birmingham starter Ian Clarkin notched his first quality start since dealing a complete game with one run against back on April 15. In Sunday's outing, Clarkin tossed six complete frames, giving up just two earned runs on five hits against one of the Southern League's most potent offenses. However, Ryan Burr (W, 2-0) earned the win in relief, while Ian Hamilton went 1.1 innings for his eighth save on the year.
By the Numbers: Jimenez is now tied for first in the league after recording his 36^th RBI, scoring Danny Mendick on a double in the top of the first. Polo re-claimed the league's top spot in stolen bases, tallying his 13^th on the year. Zack Collins continue to pace the league in walks, now totaling 47 after Sunday's contest to rank second in all of Minor League Baseball.
Up Next: The Barons will take Memorial Day off with the rest of the Southern League before returning home for ten straight games, starting with a 7:05 p.m. pitch against Chattanooga on Tuesday. Left-hander Matt Tomshaw (0-2, 7.11 ERA) will toe the rubber against southpaw Lewis Thorpe (1-3, 4.71 ERA). Curt Bloom will have the call on 960 WERC News Radio and the iHeart Radio app.