Birmingham Pummels Mobile 10-3

Hoover, AL - Ozzie Lewis's bat collected two hits with two RBI as the Birmingham Barons (13-11) pummeled the Mobile BayBears (14-9), 10-3, in front of 1,991 fans Monday night at Regions Park. Tonight's 10-run performance for the Barons was the first game this season Birmingham's offense drove in double-digit runs.

In the bottom of the first, Brandon Short reached on a fielding error by Mobile third baseman Ryan Wheeler and dashed to second on Christian Marrero's single to left field. Following a pair of stolen bases, Short scored on a groundout by Josh Phegley as the Barons took an early 1-0 lead.

The BayBears loaded the bases in the second inning with a single by Taylor Harbin, hit by pitch to Wheeler and a walk to Ed Easley. With the sacks packed, Evan Frey drove in Harbin on a groundout that tied the game at 1-1.

Birmingham recaptured a one-run advantage in the fourth inning when Lewis lined a leadoff double to right-center. After racing to third on a fly out by Tyler Kuhn, Lewis charged home on a sacrifice fly by Drew Garcia, 2-1.

Following a single by Easley, he was able to sprint to second when Charlie Leesman botched a pick-off attempt with a throwing error. Evan Frey earned a walk and both runners progressed a base on A.J. Pollock's ground out. Jacob Elmore plated Easley with a sacrifice fly that also advanced Frey to third. Paul Goldschmidt's single through the hole at shortstop drove in Frey and put the BayBears ahead, 3-2 in the fifth inning.

The Barons retaliated in the bottom of the fifth inning with four runs in the frame. Immediately after Justin Greene's double, Kenny Williams hammered a two-run home run over the left field wall. A double by Phegley and walk to Lewis led to a Kuhn bases-clearing double into the right-field corner, as Birmingham claimed a commanding three-run advantage, 6-3.

Birmingham ratcheted on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Short led with a single through the hole at shortstop and Marrero pushed him to third with a double off the wall in right-center field. Lewis added a line drive single up the middle that scored both runners, 8-3.

The Barons added two insurance runs in the eighth inning when they loaded the bases on a walk to Greg Paiml and singles by Short and Williams. Phegley delivered the big blow with a two-run single that plated Paiml and Williams for the final runs of the game, 10-3.

Birmingham starter Charlie Leesman (3-0) earned the victory by tossing 5.0 IP, while permitting three earned runs on 5 hits, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts. Mobile starter Wade Miley (0-1) was handed the loss after the southpaw allowed six runs (five earned) on 6 hits, 1 walk and 1 strikeout in 4.2 IP.

The Birmingham Barons begin a five-game road trip to Tennessee. The Barons turn to right-handed pitcher, Dylan Axelrod (1-2, 2.76) while the Jackson Generals, Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, counter with right hander, Erasmo Ramirez (2-0, 3.28), with first pitch set for 7:05p.m. at Jackson's Pringles Park.

Birmingham Barons tickets are currently available on the web, over the phone or by visiting the Regions Park Box Office. For ticket information, game schedule, or promotions calendar, call (205) 988-3200 or visit www.barons.com, www.facebook.com/birminghambarons or on Twitter: @bhambarons.