New Kids On The Block: Jimenez, Collins Star In 9-4 Victory

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Less than 24 hours after their arrival in Birmingham, top White Sox prospects Eloy Jiménez and Zack Collins both homered in their Double-A debut, propelling the Barons to a 9-4 victory over the Montgomery Biscuits on Wednesday night.
Jimenez got the party started in the first inning, sending the third pitch he saw in Birmingham over the wall in right field for a solo home run. It was Jimenez's 17^th home run of the season combined between three teams.

"That at-bat was really special for me," Jimenez said. "The ball was flying pretty well out to right field tonight, even though the guys told me the ball doesn't fly that well out to right here. But, I always try to use the whole field."
Although Jimenez got the Barons off to a fast start, Montgomery got to Tanner Banks in the second inning, as both Justin Williams and Michael Russell collected RBI base knocks to give Montgomery a brief 2-1 lead.
However, the Barons jumped right back in front, scoring seven combined runs in the second and third to take a commanding 8-3 lead after three.
Jose Vinicio, Tito Polo and Nick Basto all drove in runs as part of a five-run second, sandwiched around Jimenez's second hit in as many at bats, a 109 mph double off the wall in center field.
"I really liked that at-bat too," Jimenez said of the double. "I tried to stay more through the zone in that at-bat and I put a good swing on it and took it straight to center."
After Grant Kay's third inning RBI single, Keon Barnum reached on an error in the bottom half, allowing Courtney Hawkins to score and Vinicio in turn knocked in Barnum with a sac fly.
Even with a five-run lead, Collins joined Jimenez in homering in his Double-A debut, sending a 420-foot blast out to right-center field in the bottom of the fourth to give the Barons a 9-3 advantage.
Spotted a six-run lead, Banks battled through his 5.2 inning outing, scattering seven hits and three runs, while walking two and striking out five, before yielding to Kyle Kubat .
Kubat did the rest from there, giving up one unearned run in the eighth, before locking down his first save with the Barons, tossing 3.1 innings to close out the 9-4 victory.
Jimenez led the Barons with his two hits and solo home run, while Vinicio piled up three RBIs and Polo and Danny Mendick tallied two hit games in the 10-hit attack.
The Barons and the Biscuits will continue their five-game series with a Thirsty Thursday at Regions Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. Right-hander Jordan Stephens will take the ball for the Barons, while fellow lefty Génesis Cabrera will be on the mound for Montgomery. Curt Bloom will bring you all the action starting with the Coca-Cola pregame show starting at 6:55 p.m. on 105.5 FM WERC and the iHeart Radio app.
For ticket information, game schedule, promotions calendar or for additional information about Regions Field, call (205) 988-3200, or visit www.barons.com, www.facebook.com/birminghambarons or on Twitter: @bhambarons.