Robert Leads Charge as Barons Split Doubleheader in Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. - The Birmingham Barons (26-38) earned a split of their Tuesday doubleheader against the Mobile BayBears (24-38) as they closed out their final trip to Hank Aaron Stadium with the BayBears set to relocate to Mobile, Alabama, as the Rocket City Trash Pandas.

GAME 1 - Despite a pair of early runs, the Barons continued to struggle in the opening game of twin bills and dropped Game 1 by a 5-3 final.
Birmingham has won the first game of a doubleheader just once in seven chances this season.
The Barons jumped on top in the first after three consecutive hits from Luis Robert (single), Nick Madrigal (triple) and Luis González (single). The top-third of the order put up a pair of runs in the opening frame against BayBears starter Jesus Castillo.
However, Castillo (W, 4-6) settled in for an impressive performance and worked out of numerous jams to keep the Barons at their two-run total. The right-hander allowed at least one baserunner in each of his five innings of work, but Birmingham could not convert the scoring opportunities into runs.
Mobile responded to the Barons' early two-run cushion with three of their own in the bottom half of the inning as Jhoan Urena delivered a three-run shot inches inside the left-field foul pole to put the BayBears ahead.
Birmingham put the potential tying run aboard in the seventh after Gavin Sheets worked a one-out walk, but Mobile's Dario Beltre maneuvered out of the late-inning situation to seal the win and his fourth save of the season.
Left-hander Matt Tomshaw (L, 2-2) suffered the loss after he surrendered four runs (three earned) on four hits across three innings of work, while Hunter Schryver, Mauricio Cabrera and Wyatt Burns logged appearances out of the bullpen.
GAME 2 - A run-scoring single off the bat of Luis Robert proved to be the difference as the Barons capped off the doubleheader with a 4-1 win to earn a split of the four-game series.
Robert, who tallied a pair of hits in the win after a three-hit effort in the early game, sent a single through the left side to score Alfredo González in the fifth. It marked his 20th RBI since the White Sox No. 1 prospect earned a promotion from Hi-A Winston-Salem on April 30.
Laz Rivera delivered three hits, including an RBI-single in the sixth, to help provide some insurance for Barons left-hander Kyle Kubat. Luis Basabe, whom the Barons reinstated from the injured list prior to the start of the doubleheader, tacked on an RBI-double in the seventh to extend Birmingham's lead to three.
White Sox No. 4 prospect Nick Madrigal brought home a run with a groundout for his fourth consecutive game with an RBI - the first time he's accomplished the feat since he joined the organization.
Kubat (W, 4-2) picked up his fourth win of the season after the southpaw scattered five hits across six innings of work. The recently-named 2019 Southern League All-Star recorded his fifth quality start in eight outings with the Barons.
Right-hander Alec Hansen closed out the game with a 1-2-3 bottom half of the seventh for his first save of the season.
Mobile's Joe Gatto (L, 3-2) was tagged with the loss in relief. He allowed two runs on six hits in two innings out of the bullpen.
The Barons will return home to conclude the first half of the 2019 season with a five-game set against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp beginning Wednesday at Regions Field. Barons right-hander Blake Battenfield (2-2, 5.81) is expected to oppose Jumbo Shrimp right-hander Jordan Yamamoto (3-5, 3.58).
First pitch in the series opener is set for 7:05 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast via WJQX-FM 100.5. Coverage will begin at 6:50 p.m. with the Coca-Cola Pregame Show.
- BARONS -
The Birmingham Barons are the proud Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. 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