Pitchers Back Collins Homer in Win

The Birmingham Barons (41-42) scored all the runs they would need in the opening frame, while strong pitching made the early lead stand for a 3-1 victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts (40-44) on Friday night at AT&T Field.

• Turning Points: The Barons wasted little time getting their offense going as Joel Booker  hit a ground-rule double to right field to open the game. Luis Basabe singled on the next at bat to place runners on the corners before Zack Collins  cleared the bases with a three-run blast for a 3-0 Birmingham lead after the top if the first.
• Facts and Figures: Collins' three-run homer marked his 11^th on the season while moving his RBI total up to 41, ranking him second on the Birmingham roster in both statistical categories. While Collins paved the way, leading the lineup in RBIs on the night, Booker and Trey Michalczewski  paced the Barons with two hits apiece.
• Moments That Mattered: After Dylan Cease  worked five scoreless frames with just a pair of hits against, Chattanooga jumped on reliever Jake Johansen  early in the sixth inning. Following a leadoff walk drawn by Andy Wilkins, two consecutive hits loaded the bases before a single off the bat of Jaylin Davis plated Wilkins to cut the Barons' lead to two runs. However, Johansen worked his way out of the jam with minimal damage, retiring the next three batters and leaving the bases full of Lookouts.
• By the Numbers: Cease (W, 1-0) racked up a career-high 111 pitches on the night, hitting 64 for strikes to the tune of nine strikeouts. After settling into the game, Cease allowed just five base runners between two hits and three walks with none touching home to earn his first Double-A win. Brandon Brennan  pitched two perfect frames with a pair of strikeouts after taking over for Johansen to start the seventh, while Brian Clark  picked up his first save of the season, dealing a clean ninth inning to seal the win.

• Up Next: The Barons and Lookouts will wrap up the series on Saturday with first pitch slated for 6:15 p.m. Two southpaws will face off as Matt Tomshaw  (4-4, 5.32) looks to toe the rubber for Birmingham while Lewis Thorpe (4-4, 4.04) will get the start for Chattanooga. Curt Bloom will have the call on 960 WERC News Radio and the iHeart Radio app.