Barons Make 4-3 Lead Stand Up Against Clingstones on Saturday

BIRMINGHAM, Ala -- Anthony DePino hit a two-run home run as the Birmingham Barons won 4-3 over the Columbus Clingstones before 4,831 at Regions Field on Saturday night. DePino had two hits and two RBI, along with three defensive diving plays to help the Barons get the home win.

Starting pitcher Dylan Cumming got the no-decision, going 4.2 innings, giving up nine hits, three earned runs, and one walk with two strikeouts. Liam Paddack (2-0, 2.89) gets the win in relief, going 1.1 innings, giving up only a hit with a strikeout. Aiden Anderson pitched two perfect innings. Jonathan Clark got his seventh save of the season, going one inning and giving up only a walk.

Birmingham (20-24, 46-67) scored in the bottom of the first inning. Dylan Campbell tripled to start the Barons' inning. With two outs, DePino hit a two-run home run, a 460-foot home run, and the Barons led 2-0.

Columbus (23-21, 52-56) scored in the top of the third inning. An Eric Hartman RBI groundout and a Jordan Groshans single tied the game at 2-2.

Columbus took the lead in the top of the fifth inning. John Gil walked and stole second base. A Hartman RBI single scored Gil, and the Clingstones took the 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Caleb Bonemer walked. DePino doubled on a line drive to left field. Colby Shelton hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Bonemer, and the Barons tied the game at 3-3. With DePino tagging from second base on the sacrifice fly, DePino scored on a Blane Abeyta wild pitch, and the Barons led 4-3.

With Clark pitching in the ninth, Austin Machado walked with two outs, and Dalton McIntyre pinch-ran for Machado. Two pitches later, McIntyre took off for second base, and Barons catcher Jorge Corona threw out McIntyre to end the game.

For the Barons, DePino had the home run and a double while Bonemer had a hit and two walks in the win.

The Barons take the 3-2 edge in the series with the Clingstones. Game 6 will be Sunday as RHP Connor McCullough (1-7, 4.37) will go for the Barons while the Clingstones will send LHP Braden Scott (2-0, 2.81) to the mound. First pitch is at 2:05 pm.