BIRMINGHAM, AL -- Mississippi's fast start was not enough to hold off Birmingham as the Barons won the fifth and final game of the series 8-3, preventing the M-Braves from getting the sweep on the road.For the second game in a row, Carlos Franco hit a home run in the top
BIRMINGHAM, AL -- Mississippi's fast start was not enough to hold off Birmingham as the Barons won the fifth and final game of the series 8-3, preventing the M-Braves from getting the sweep on the road.
For the second game in a row, Carlos Franco hit a home run in the top of the first inning to give Mississippi (15-15) an early lead. Keith Curcio led off the game with a double down the left field line. Travis Demeritte then drew a one-out walk to set the stage for Franco, as he hit the first pitch he saw into the bleachers beyond the right field wall to give Mississippi a 3-0 lead.
The Barons (11-19) countered in the bottom of the first with four runs of their own. Two walks, a hit batter, an error and two singles led to four runs for Birmingham. Eddy Alvarez led off with a walk, then Jake Peter singled to right field. Nick Basto reached on a fielding error by Dylan Moore at third to plate Alvarez. Cameron Seitzer then walked and Mason Robbins singled, scoring Peter and Basto. Trey Michalczewski was hit by pitch before Keon Barnum hit into a double play which allowed Robbins to score and give the Barons a 4-3 lead.
Starting pitcher Mike Soroka (2-3) shut the Barons down for four innings after the shaky start. He did hit two batters and walk one in the second inning, but did not allow a run to score. Through five innings of work, Soroka was charged with four runs, three earned, on two hits and four walks. He struck out four.
Evan Phillips came on in relief to start the sixth and retired the first five Barons he faced. However, a two-out walk, followed by a single from Basto put two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh. Seitzer then hit a line drive homer down the right field line to give the Barons a 7-3.
Birmingham added another run in the eighth after Chad Sobotka, who came on in relief of Phillips, walked the first two batters of the inning then got a fly out to left. Hunter Jones then singled to load the bases with one out. Alvarez hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Michalczewski from third to make it an 8-3 game.
Mississippi returns home to host Mobile for five games at Trustmark Park beginning Monday night at 7:00 PM (CT). The Braves start RHP Patrick Weigel (2-0, 2.78) while the BayBears counter with RHP Alex Klonowski (1-1, 2.35).
Mississippi (15-15) 3R 8H 2E
Birmingham (11-19) 8R 5H 0E
Win: Thaddius Lowry (2-1, 6.06)
Loss: Mike Soroka (2-3, 3.73)
Hold: Aaron Bummer (1)
Attendance: 5,687
Time: 2:37
