Briley Comes Through in the Clutch as Barons Win 7-6 Over Lookouts on Friday

BIRMINGHAM, Ala -- Alec Briley delivered two home runs, with the go-ahead home run as the Birmingham Barons won 7-6 before 7,468 at Regions Field on Friday night. With the Barons trailing by a run late in the game, Briley hit a two-run home run to give the Barons the lead. Birmingham finishes the month of July with a 13-11 record, after being below .500 in the first three months of the season, and the Barons fourth straight win.

Starting pitcher Juan Carela pitched three innings, giving up five hits, four runs, three earned runs, and a walk with four strikeouts. Relief pitcher Jake Palisch (3-8, 5.32) gets the win, going five innings, giving up four hits, two runs, and no walks with four strikeouts. Jonathan Clark pitched the ninth inning, getting his fifth save of the season.

Chattanooga (11-20, 48-52) scored first in the game in the top of the first inning. After a Jay Allen double, A Cam Collier RBI single to right field scored Allen, and the Lookouts took the early 1-0 lead.

Birmingham (14-17, 40-60) followed up with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Alec Briley hit a solo home run, and the Barons tied the game at 1-1.

In the top of the second inning, the Lookouts took the lead. Cade Hunter singled, Johnny Ascanio doubled, and Kien Vu's three-run home run gave Chattanooga a 4-1 lead.

At the bottom of the second inning, Birmingham matched Chattanooga with three runs. Ryan Burrowes walked, Dylan Campbell singled, and Jorge Corona hit a three-run home run to tie the game at 4-4.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Barons scored again. Colby Shelton singled and stole second base. On the play, the throw goes into center field, and Shelton moves to third base with no outs. Next batter, Ryan Burrowes, hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Shelton, giving the Barons a 5-4 lead.

In the top of the seventh inning, Allen doubled, and with two outs, Ruben Ibarra hit a two-run home run, and the Lookouts took back the lead at 6-5.

But on a night that whatever Chattanooga did in the top of the inning, Birmingham matched it in the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning, with one out, Boston Smith singled, and with two outs, Briley hit a laser over the right field wall for a two-run home run, and the Barons took back the lead at 7-6.

In the top of the ninth, Clark comes on to shut the door for the Barons. He hit the first Lookout to put a runner on first base, but then got the last three batters to close out the game.

For the Barons, Briley had two home runs and three RBI. Campbell had three hits and a run scored. Corona had the big three-run home run.

Up next is Game 5 of the six-game series. The Barons will send RHP Gabe Davis (0-4, 8.24) to the mound as the Lookouts will counter with MLB rehab LHP Brandon Williamson (0-0, -.--) of the Cincinnati Reds.