Barons Fall In Extra-Inning Battle, 3-2

Playing in their third straight extra-inning game, the Birmingham Barons (64-70) were on the wrong end of a walk-off, falling 3-2 to the Biloxi Shuckers (79-57) in 10 innings in the opener of the five-game series at MGM Park on Thursday night.

• Turning Point: The Barons couldn't protect a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 10th. Trent Grisham's bunt single quickly put runners on the corners against Brian Clark (L, 2-4). Blake Allemand followed with a ground ball on the infield, and Trey Michalczewski elected to try and catch the runner at third base, but failed, loading the bases. Two hitters later, Gabriel Noriega singled to left-center, scoring two runs to give Biloxi the walk-off win.
• Moments That Mattered: Down 1-0 against Southern League Pitcher of the Year Zack Brown, the Barons scratched out the tying run in the sixth as Joel Booker began the inning with a double and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Zack Collins. In the 10th, a sacrifice fly from Danny Mendick put Birmingham in front, but the Shuckers' rally in the bottom half ended the game.
• Facts And Figures: Brown lived up to his award by quieting the Birmingham bats for most of the night, giving up jus the one run on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts over 6.0 innings. Barons starter Tanner Banks matched him inning for inning, giving up just one run on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts over 7.0 frames. Neither starter would wind up as part of his final decision. Zach Thompson and Cody Ponce each kept the game tied for his club with 2.0 scoreless relief innings.
• By The Numbers: From the leadoff spot, Booker went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a double, the Barons' only extra-base hit of the night. Michalczewski, Mendick, and Alex Call recorded the other three Birmingham hits.
• Up Next: The two sides continue the series with a 6:35 p.m. matchup on Friday night. Felix Paulino (0-1, 3.60) is set to start for the Barons against the Shuckers' Braden Webb (0-0, 2.57). Curt Bloom will have the call on 960 WERC News Radio and the iHeart Radio app.