Barons Dismantle M-Braves Behind 11-Run Inning

The Birmingham Barons rode an 11-run first inning to their fourth win in a row over the Mississippi Braves, winning by a score of 13-2 Saturday night in front of 7,988 fans at Regions Field.

The Barons failed to score the first run of the game for the first time in 2013, as former Baron Jose Martinez delivered an RBI single to give the M-Braves a 1-0 lead. However, the Barons more than made up for it in the bottom half of the inning, scoring 11 runs on nine hits and chasing Braves starter Gus Schlosser (0-1, 11.81) from the game after retiring just one batter.

Every Barons player recorded one hit and at least one run in the inning. The Barons loaded the bases and scored their first run of the game on a wild pitch by Schlosser. Dan Black would follow with a two-run double and Tyler Saladino lined an RBI single past a drawn-in infield. The hits and runs kept coming as Mike Blanke brought in two more runs on a double to the wall in left, chasing Schlosser from the game. His replacement, Michael Lee, was unable to cool of the Barons' hot bats as Dan Wagner and Trayce Thompson brought home runs on RBI singles and Keenyn Walker and Brandon Short clubbed RBI doubles. When the dust had settled, 15 batters came to the plate in the inning.

The Barons would tack on another run in the third on an RBI single by DH Dan Black and capped the scoring on an RBI double by Andy Wilkins in the seventh that barely missed leaving the ballpark.

Walker, Thompson, Wilkins, Black and Saladino each finished with two hits apiece for the Barons who lead the Southern League with 48 runs scored.

Barons starter Scott Snodgress (2-0, 3.27) was the beneficiary of the scoring outburst but pitched well in his own right, allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits over 6.0 innings. He's picked up the win in his first two starts as a Baron.

With the win, the Barons improved to 6-3 and have now won their first four games at Regions Field. With the loss, the Braves fall to 3-6.

The Barons will look to sweep their inaugural series at Regions Field tomorrow afternoon as RHP Stephen MccRay (0-1, 9.00) takes the hill against RHP Gary Moran (0-0, 3.60). First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM CDT.