Wednesday, August 6, 2008
For Immediate Release |
Contact: Jim Tocco
(334)
323-0363 |
Biscuits take out Barons, 8-3
Biscuits use five-run fifth to take series opener
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HOOVER
- The Montgomery Biscuits (27-18; 61-54) used a five-run fifth inning at Regions Park Wednesday night on their way to an 8-3, series-opening victory over the Birmingham Barons (22-23; 62-53).
J.T. Hall led the Biscuits' offense with three hits, including a two-run, bases-loaded single in the Biscuits' pivotal fifth. Montgomery sent all of its hitters to the plate in the inning, knocking Birmingham starter Dewon Day (4.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K) out of the game and continuing the onslaught against reliever Ryan Rote.
The inning snapped a 2-2 tie and put Montgomery in the lead for good. The first run of the inning scored on a groundout by Gaby Martinez, who broke his own Biscuits single season RBI record. Martinez would later tie for the Southern League lead with 84 by knocking in Rashad Eldridge in the sixth with a single off the left field wall.
Montgomery also scored tallies in the fifth on a single by Chris Nowak and a sacrifice fly by Matt Spring.
Biscuits starter Jason Cromer (4-3) got a 2-0 lead in the third inning following a fielding error by Birmingham shortstop Robert Valido. He lost the lead in the fourth by allowing two run on three hits. First baseman Brandon Allen kocked in the second run in a remarkable at-bat. The powerful lefty fouled a ball off of home plate that appeared to bounce up and strike him in the cheek. On the very next pitch, he drove a triple into the gap in right centerfield.
Cromer lasted a season-high six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and throwing his first quality start of the season.
Nowak and shortstop Ronnie Merrill were both tossed out of the game by homeplate umpire Gerard Ascani for arguing called strikes.
Colter Bean earned his 11th save of the year by working the game's final three innings. He allowed a lone run in the ninth on a Lee Cruz double.
The Biscuits have now won 15 of their last 16 road games, dating back to the Fourth of July.
With Mississippi's 10-9 loss to the Jacksonville Suns, Montgomery climbed to within 1 1/2 games of the South Division lead.
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