Jimenez Slams Barons To Wild 8-5 Win
Six runs in ninth help Barons even series in Jackson
Eloy Jimenez hit the game-winning grand slam for Birmingham on Saturday.
(Michael Wade)
Ninth-inning magic led the Birmingham Barons (21-27) to an improbable 8-5 win over the Jackson Generals (28-20) on Saturday night at The Ballpark at Jackson. The win evens up the series at two games apiece with the series finale set for Sunday afternoon. Turning Point: Down 5-4 with the bases loaded
Ninth-inning magic led the Birmingham Barons (21-27) to an improbable 8-5 win over the Jackson Generals (28-20) on Saturday night at The Ballpark at Jackson. The win evens up the series at two games apiece with the series finale set for Sunday afternoon.
- Turning Point: Down 5-4 with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth,
Eloy Jiménez got a pitch over the plate and crushed it well over the center field wall for a grand slam, his first in the White Sox organization, to propel the Barons in front 8-5. The home run was his ninth of the season to give him 35 RBI, second in the Southern League. - By the Numbers: The six runs the Barons scored in the ninth inning ties their biggest offensive inning of the season. It began with a double from
Jameson Fisher and an RBI single fromRyan Brett to plate a run.Danny Mendick hit a sacrifice fly a few batters later to cut the deficit to 5-4. AfterZack Collins walked to load the bases, Jimenez connected off relieverYoan López to put Birmingham in front for good. - Moments That Mattered: Early in the game, Birmingham used a little bit of trickery to get even. With two outs in the third and runners on the corners, Collins headed to second and beat the throw for the stolen base. On the throw, Mendick broke for the plate and slid in safely for a successful steal of home to even the score at 2-2.
- Facts and Figures: Down 5-2 in the seventh, the Barons turned to
José Ruiz (W, 1-0) out of the bullpen and the reliever dominated, pitching 2.1 hitless innings to finish the game. He would earn his first Double-A win thanks to the offensive outburst in the ninth. Offensively, Fisher got the scoring started with a solo home run in the second and Mendick stole a season-high three bases. Collins now has three stolen bases this season after not stealing a base for the first two years of his career. - Up Next:
Ian Clarkin (3-5, 6.75) is set to start the finale for the Barons against the Generals'Jon Duplantier (3-1, 2.37). First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Curt Bloom will have the call on 960 WERC News Radio and the iHeart Radio app.