Colas Homers Twice in 8-3 Win Over Smokies
The Barons (43-49) evened up their current road series in Tennessee with an emphatic 8-3 win over the Smokies (50-42). Oscar Colas led the charge with his second multi-home run game in less than a week, while the Birmingham pitching and defense blanked their opponent for a total of seven
The Barons (43-49) evened up their current road series in Tennessee with an emphatic 8-3 win over the Smokies (50-42). Oscar Colas led the charge with his second multi-home run game in less than a week, while the Birmingham pitching and defense blanked their opponent for a total of seven scoreless innings.
Birmingham opened the scoring early in the first with an RBI single from Moises Castillo to score Colas. In his next at bat, Colas stretched the lead to two with a solo shot to right field, but the Smokies would respond in kind with a two run home run of their own off the bat of Yonathan Perlaza to tie the contest, 2-2.
Oscar Colas rips his fourth home run of the year to stretch the Barons lead 🔥
— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) July 28, 2022
Birmingham 2, Tennessee 0 | Mid 3 pic.twitter.com/zkDfN9IHTj
The draw would be short lived, however, after Craig Dedelow cranked his 17th long ball of the year to right center in the fourth to score himself and Yoelqui Céspedes for their second two run lead of the night. Colas kept the offense rolling in the fifth with his second home run of the night, this one bringing in Jose Rodriguez as well to widen the lead to 6-2.
OSCAR 🔥 COLAS 🔥
— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) July 28, 2022
Colas now has five home runs in eight appearances and his second multi-home run night in a week 😵
Birmingham 6, Tennessee 2 | Mid 5 pic.twitter.com/2NnbwyeAP1
Birmingham’s final two runs would come off the bat of Rodriguez with a well placed line drive to center field to bring in Ivan Gonzalez and Ian Dawkins. Rodriguez also demonstrated his speed and tenacious base running with three stolen bags, bringing him to a league-leading 35 stolen bases.
The Barons pitching staff combined for a solid night on the other side of the field, led by LHP Garrett Davila (5-2), who threw for five innings and earned the win. RHP Theo Denlinger and RHP Yoelvin Silven held off the Smokies’ bats until the bottom of the eighth, allowing Tennessee’s final run of the game. RHP Taylor Broadway shut the door on the Smokies in the ninth with a quick 1-2-3 appearance to retire the side.
The two North Division foes will continue to grapple for the second half, first place spot tomorrow night in Kodak, TN at 6:15 p.m./CT with RHP Jason Bilous on the bump for the Barons.