Biscuits claim first championship

Elliot Johnson hit for the cycle Friday as the Montgomery Biscuits won their first Southern League championship with a 12-4 romp over the Huntsville Stars.

Johnson reached on a bunt single in the first inning and tripled in the second before slamming a two-run homer, his first postseason blast, in the fourth.

The 22-year-old second baseman, who called his first three hits "really lucky," struck out in the fifth but delivered an RBI double in the seventh to become the first player in team history to complete the cycle.

Johnson made history by sending reliever Matt Yeatman's first-pitch fastball into center field.

"I knew I needed a double," said Johnson, who admitted he did not try to reach third base. "To do it in a championship game makes it that much better."

After dropping the series opener, the Biscuits -- in their third season -- took three straight from the Stars to capture the crown.

"We were definitely not going away easily," said Johnson, adding that the team "really stepped it up for the postseason."

Jeremy Owens drilled the first pitch in the second over the left-field wall as Montgomery scored at least once in each of the first five frames. The 29-year-old left fielder also hit a three-run, inside-the-park homer in Friday's 7-0 win.

Evan Longoria, the third overall pick in this year's draft, and Michael Coleman cranked three-run shots in the third and fifth, respectively. The blast was Coleman's second in as many days and third of the postseason.

Johnson explained that Coleman, who led Montgomery with 17 roundtrippers during the regular season, had been "putting exclamation points" on the Biscuits' offense.

Johnny Raburn sparked the scoring with an RBI single in the first and Owens delivered a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Coleman and Jason Pridie, who went 3-for-4, tripled as eight members of the starting lineup had at least one hit.

Montgomery starter Jason Cromer (1-0) gave up four runs on five hits and five walks while striking out three over six innings. Tony Peguero tossed two scoreless frames before Brian Henderson fanned two in a perfect ninth.

Jeffrey Eure hit an RBI single and Steve Moss delivered a run-scoring forceout in the fourth to bring the Stars within 5-2. Ryan Braun added an RBI single during a two-run seventh.

Huntsville starter Manny Parra (1-1) worked three innings, yielding five runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts.