Smokies Edge Barons In Pitchers' Duel

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Matt Cooper and Jen-Ho Tseng engaged in a pitchers' duel in front of a sellout crowd in Birmingham on Thursday night, with Tseng and the Tennessee Smokies edging Cooper and the Barons 2-1.
Tennessee kicked off the scoring in the first inning off of Cooper as Jeffrey Baez walked to lead off the game and eventually came around to score on an error by shortstop Cleuluis Rondon. 

Cooper, however, would work in and out of trouble for the rest of his six inning start, surrendering one more run on another error in the fifth inning. The righy struck out four and walked one and kept the Barons within striking distance.
Birmingham's bats would finally break through in the bottom of the fifth, as Jake Peter doubled and then came around to score after Nick Basto reached on a throwing error by Tseng.
But the Barons couldn't push across the tying run in the late innings off of Tseng and relievers Brad Markey and Andury Acevedo. Tseng went six, giving up four hits and striking out four to record his fourth win of the season. Markey threw two scoreless and Acevedo worked out of trouble in the bottom of the ninth to record his third save of the season.
Jake Peter and Eddy Alvarez led the Barons offense with two hits apiece, while Aaron Bummer and Ian Hamilton combined to throw three scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Cooper dropped to 1-3 with the loss.
The Barons will be back in action on a Friday Night Fireworks and Star Wars Night at Regions Field tomorrow night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. Right-hander Michael Kopech (2-2 3.06) will get the ball for the Barons and Trevor Clifton (3-1 2.37). Curt Bloom will bring you all the action starting with the Coca-Cola pregame show starting at 6:55 p.m.
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.