Barons Cut Down in Late-Inning Rally

The Tennessee Smokies (33-31) scored five unanswered runs, coming back from a 3-0 deficit with a four-run surge in the seventh to defeat the Birmingham Barons (29-34) 5-3 on Monday at Smokies Stadium. The two sides are now even in the series at 2-2.

• Moments That Mattered: Danny Mendick notched his eighth homer of the year, powering the Barons to an early 3-0 lead on a second inning blast over left field. Mendick paced Birmingham at the plate, going 2-for-4, following his three-run homer up with a leadoff double in the fifth for six total bases on the night.
• By the Numbers: Just six games from the end of the first half of the season, Mendick is on pace to catch Jason Dellaero as the last true Baron shortstop to hit at least 10 homers in a season. Dellaero recorded 10 dingers for Birmingham in 1999 before going on to play in 11 games for the White Sox that season.
• Turning Points: After a solo homer from Trent Giambrone in the third cut the Birmingham lead to 3-1, Yasiel Balaguert shaved the deficit to one with a solo homer to open the bottom of the seventh. A single from Zack Short brought the tying run home two batters later before Giambrone finished what he started with a two-run double to put the Smokies ahead 5-3.
• Facts and Figures: After giving up two runs on five hits through the first six innings, Birmingham starter Jordan Guerrero left the mound after walking Jesse Hodges following Balaguert's solo homer. Hodges would later score on a Charcer Burks single in the momentum-shifting seventh; however, Guerrero notched his third quality start with just three earned runs against, marking Birmingham's fourth straight quality start from its rotation this series.
• Up Next: The Barons and Smokies wrap up their series with a rubber game on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Both sides will call from their respective bullpens for the start in the series finale. Curt Bloom will have the call on 960 WERC News Radio and the iHeart Radio app.