Barons Fall Short In Series Finale

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos (15-20) held off a ninth inning rally for a 7-6 win over the Birmingham Barons (17-18) in the homestand finale on Friday night at Regions Field.

• Turning Points After Birmingham built a 4-1 lead off of a pair of two-run blasts from Zack Collins  and Keon Barnum , Pensacola tied the game in the top of the fifth thanks to a two-run triple off the bat of Shed Long and an RBI from Luis Gonzalez.  Aristides Aquino's second homer of the series - a two-run shot to left field - broke the tie and put the Blue Wahoos ahead for good in the top of the sixth.
• Moments That Mattered: Entering the bottom of the ninth down 7-4, the Barons threatened to take the game in walk-off fashion after Ryan Brett  cut the deficit to 7-6 with a two-run single. However, Rafael De Paula entered the game and got the final out for the save to deny Birmingham it's fourth win of the series.
• By the Numbers: Birmingham continued its aerial assault of Pensacola with Collins' and Barnum's home runs, totaling 21 homers in 10 games against the Blue Wahoos this season. The two long balls move the Barons' season total to 42, with 36 coming in their last 20 games.
• Facts and Figures: Eloy Jimenez extended his hitting streak to 15 games with an eighth inning single. Over the stretch, Jimenez is batting .400 (26-for-65) and slugging .820. As for the Barons' bullpen, José Ruiz  shined in his Double-A debut, holding the Blue Wahoos hitless over two complete innings of relief work.
• Up Next: The Barons hit the road for a five-game series against the Mobile BayBears starting on Saturday. First pitch of the series opener is slated for 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Dane Dunning (2-0, 3.06 ERA) will get the nod against righty Luis Pena (1-3, 5.88 ERA). Curt Bloom will have the call on 960 WERC News Radio and the iHeart Radio app.