Barons Winning Streak Ended in Loss to Wahoos

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Birmingham Barons (14-6, 41-48) saw their winning streak come to an end in a thrilling 4-2 loss to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (10-10, 48-42) Tuesday night at Regions Field.

Minnesota Twins No. 2 prospect Alex Kirilloff knocked in the game-winning run in the top of the 10^th. Kirilloff singled home Jordan Gore to go ahead 3-2, padding Kirilloff's impressive series where he batted .370 with 10 hits against the Barons.
Moments later, outfielder Mark Contreras got in on the action with an RBI double to score Travis Blankenhorn and leave the game at the final score of 4-2.
With the Barons up 2-1 in the top of the ninth, Barons reliever Danny Dopico had the Wahoos down to their last strike before letting up the lead.
Pensacola catcher Caleb Hamilton belted a deep double to right-center that plated Contreras and tied the game at 2-2. For Dopico, it was his first blown save of the season. It was also the third time in the series that Pensacola had tied the game in the ninth down to their last strike.
The loss snaps the Barons six-game winning streak, tied for their previous high this season. They had also won nine in a row at home coming in and were looking for their first six-game series sweep since 2013.
Barons starter John Parke was dealing in his second outing of the series. He finished with 6.1 innings pitched, allowing just one run on one hit (a solo home run by Gore in the third to tie it at 1-1).
After the home run, Parke proceeded to retire 13 straight Blue Wahoo hitters until he was taken out in the seventh. Even after Alec Hansen came in, the streak went all the way to 15 straight hitters.
In his first game since playing in the Futures Game on Sunday, the White Sox No. 4 prospect Nick Madrigal plated the go-ahead run in the fifth inning on an RBI single to left that scored Damek Tomscha. The Barons went up 2-1.
The Barons got on the board first with an RBI single in the bottom of the first from Ti'Quan Forbes. His flare to shallow left plated Blake Rutherford to go up 1-0
The single in the fifth for Madrigal extended his current hitting streak to 14-straight games. Over his streak, he has 22 hits with five RBI and just one strikeout.
Even with the blown save, Dopico stepped into a based loaded, no outs situation in the eighth. He struck out the side and kept the Barons in the lead up 2-1.
With the win, the Barons earned their third series win of the half. They will pick back up at 6:05 p.m. Thursday on the road against the Jackson Generals. Right-hander Blake Battenfield (2-2, 5.15) will make his 10^th start of the season.
WJQX-FM 100.5 will be the home of the Barons on Thursday. Fans can tune into the Coca-Cola Pregame Show starting at 5:50 p.m.
The Birmingham Barons are the proud Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The Barons will open the home portion of their 2019 season, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of Michael Jordan's lone year in baseball, against the Tennessee Smokies at 7:05 p.m. April 10 at Regions Field. For ticket information, game schedule, promotions calendar or additional information about Regions Field, please visit barons.com or call (205) 988-3200.
Southern League Champions: 1906 • 1912 • 1914 • 1928 • 1929 • 1931 • 1958 • 1967 •1983 • 1987 • 1989 • 1993 • 2002 • 2013
33-Year Double-A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox