Regions Field Hosts Sellout, Barons Fall 3-2

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A sellout crowd of 8,500 gathered a Regions Field Tuesday night, but despite the tremendous fan support, the Barons were unable to overcome a 3-1 deficit to the Smokies.

The sellout was the ninth occasion Birmingham fans have packed the downtown stadium in 2015, and it's the 24th sellout since Regions Field opened its gates in 2013 - 25th including the White Sox exhibition game to kick off the 2014 season.

The two-run loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Birmingham, and was the first game of the series taken by Tennessee. The Barons still lead the series 3-1 in spite of the loss. Tony Bucciferro (0-6, 6.46 ERA) suffered his sixth loss of the year, while Smokies starter Pierce Johnson (3-0, 1.14 ERA) picked up the win and held the Barons to just three hits.

Joey DeMichele was 1-for-4 with Birmingham's lone extra-base hit, a double in the seventh, and Tim Anderson and Courtney Hawkins each recorded singles. Anderson's leadoff single was the only Barons hit until DeMichele's leadoff double six frames later. Christian Marrero batted in the only run for the home team in the same inning with a sacrifice fly to score DeMichele from third.

Wilson Contreras plated Tennessee's first two runs in the third with a two-RBI double, and the insurance run crossed in the seventh courtesy an Elliot Soto RBI double.

Birmingham's second half record dropped to 8-3, and the Barons find themselves 1.0 game ahead of Montgomery in the Southern League North standings. The win for Tennessee keeps the Smokies in third place, but moves them to just 2.0 games behind first-place Birmingham. 

ON DECK
The series against Tennessee wraps up Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. as the Barons look to take four of five games from the Smokies. Right-hander Myles Jaye (7-3, 2.72 ERA) puts his team-best record on the line against Tennessee lefty Rob Zastryzny (0-1, 5.94 ERA) before the team visits Jackson, Tenn., for one last series with the Generals in 2015.

TICKET BOOTH
Tickets to Saturday's game are all gone, but plenty of seats remain for the rest of the five-game home stand. To order tickets, visit Barons.com or call (205) 988-3200. For more information, visit us at www.barons.com, www.facebook.com/birminghambarons or on Twitter: @bhambarons.