Lowry starts Barons' first triple play since 2014

After a sleepy start to an 11 a.m. tilt, Thaddius Lowry got the wake-up call he needed.
The White Sox right-hander teamed with shortstop Eddy Alvarez and first baseman Keon Barnum on a triple play in the first inning of Double-A Birmingham's 5-4 win over Jacksonville on Wednesday at Regions Field. It was the Barons' first triple play since Jaime Pedroza and Rangel Ravelo combined on one on June 14, 2014.

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Lowry began the game by walking Isaac Galloway, then commited a throwing error on a bunt by Yefri Pérez. Third-ranked Marlins prospectBrian Anderson followed by drilling a two-run double to left and John Norwood walked to put runners at first and second.
"There was no outs in the inning and two runs had already scored," Lowry said. "My command wasn't really there. It was an early game and I just kind of had to grind through it."

The next batter, Alex Glenn, lined a 1-2 pitch back up the middle. Lowry speared it and turned toward second with his only goal being to double off Anderson. He did that with a quick throw to Alvarez. However, the 22-year-old was surprised when he saw Norwood freeze almost halfway to second base.
"I didn't realize that I guess they might have tried to do a double-steal," Lowry said. "Eddy started throwing to first base and I didn't even realize that the other guy was halfway off the bag already."

Alvarez threw to Barnum in plenty of time to get Norwood. As they returned to the dugout, Lowry and his teammates embraced a new lease on life.
"The momentum of the game definitely shifted," he said. "That was a really big inning because I had no outs and there were two runners on and two runs had scored."
With that troublesome inning behind him, the 2013 fifth-round pick gave up one run over the next four frames, on a sacrifice fly by Anderson. He yielded three hits, none in the same inning, and allowed only three runners to reach scoring position. The 6-foot-4 hurler departed in the sixth after surrendering three runs -- one earned -- on four hits and three walks with one strikeout. And he credited the triple play with helping turn the tide.
"I definitely started warming up to the day," he said with a laugh.

Lowry did not figure in the decision as Miguel Chalas (1-0) gave up one hit and struck out one in two scoreless innings to nab the win.
Alvarez chipped in offensively for Birmingham with a single, an RBI and a pair of walks. Barons left fielder Cameron Seitzer went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
Jumbo Shrimp reliever Tyler Higgins (0-3) surrendered a run on four hits and a pair of walks while fanning four over two innings.
Anderson totaled three RBIs, giving him eight in his last four games for Jacksonville.