Barons Bounce Back, Beat Trash Pandas 8-4 on Wednesday

MADISON, Ala -- Four Birmingham Barons had two hits apiece to lead the Barons to an 8-4 win over the Rocket City Trash Pandas before 2,636 at Toyota Field on Wednesday night. The Barons pounded out 12 hits and got seven walks in the road win.

The Barons were 4-for-15 in runners in scoring position, left 11 runners on base, and had many chances to score more runs. Even though the Barons didn't hit a home run, they had four doubles tonight.

Starting pitcher Drew Thorpe, on his major league rehab stop with the Barons, pitched his second game for Birmingham. In two games, he has only given up one run in eight innings of work. Jackson Kelley (1-2, 2.62) pitched the fifth and sixth innings and didn't give up a hit or a walk, and got three strikeouts. Pierce George pitched 1.1 innings, giving up two hits, one earned run, and two walks with three strikeouts. Morris Austin got his second save of the season, going 1.2 innings, giving up two hits, one earned run, and no walks with two strikeouts.

Rocket City (18-17, 53-50) scored in the bottom of the first inning on a Jake Munroe sacrifice fly, scoring Nick Rodriguez, and the Trash Pandas led 1-0. In the bottom of the second inning, Jacob Cozard singled, scoring Caleb Bartolero, and Rocket City led 2-0.

Birmingham (16-19, 42-62) scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning. Anthony DePino hit a double to left field. Colby Shelton walked. Ryan Burrowes followed with a single to center field, loading the bases. Recent call-up James Taussig, looking for his first hit, was hit by a pitch, scoring DePino. Jose Colmenares grounded into a force out, scoring Shelton, and the Barons tied the game at 2-2.

With the top of the order coming around, Dylan Campbell doubled to center field, scoring Burrowes and Colmenares, and the Barons took a 3-2 lead. Caleb Bonemer walked, and Alec Briley reached on a throwing error, scoring Campbell, and the Barons led 5-2.

In the top of the seventh inning, Briley doubled to left field, Shelton walked, and Burrowes walked to load the bases. Taussig singled, scoring Briley and Shelton, and the Barons led 7-2. Grant Magill singled on a line drive to center field, scoring Burrowes. The Barons led 8-2.

Rocket City tacked on a run in the eighth and ninth innings, but Austin got Rodriguez to ground out, and the Barons evened the series at 1-1.

Up next, the Barons will play Game 3 of the six-game series against the Trash Pandas. The Barons will go with LHP Lucas Gordon (3-6, 5.15) while the Trash Pandas will send RHP Nate Snead (3-5, 4.53) to the mound. First pitch is at 6:35 pm.