Austin Pruitt, Biscuits hold Barons to one run

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Barons saw their Southern League North lead cut to one game Friday as the Biscuits claimed a 6-1 win at Regions Field. Montgomery starting pitcher Austin Pruitt contained Birmingham through eight innings, it a third consecutive loss.

Pruitt (8-5, 2.91 ERA) held the Barons to just seven run on the night without labor. The right-hander threw 95 pitches over eight innings en route to the win. Birmingham starter Robinson Leyer (1-1, 6.15 ERA) was charged the loss after three innings of work. 

Five of Montgomery's six runs were plated in the third inning. Until that point, Leyer had surrendered only one hit. On one out, Patrick Leonard singled home the first run, and Justin O'Conner delivered the big hit with a bases-loaded triple. An RBI double from Thomas Coyle pushed the Biscuit lead to 5-0.

The Barons got a run back in the fourth on an Adrian Nieto RBI groundout, but the lead was extended back to five runs in the seventh when Jake Bauers singled home Leonard. Reliever Ryan Garton closed out the game by retiring the Birmingham side in order along with two strikeouts in the ninth inning.

Birmingham mustered just seven hits through the nine-inning contest. Shortstop Tim Anderson was 3-for-4 on the night, but was picked off twice and caught stealing once to erase the threat of the three hits. Christian Marrero, Tony Thomas, Joey DeMichele and Keenyn Walker accounted for the remaining four hits. The Barons were not able to record an extra-base hit and left just four runners on base.

ON DECK
Game three of the five-game series is set for a 6:30 p.m. CDT first pitch Saturday. The Barons will start Mark Blackmar (5-5, 3.51 ERA), while the Biscuits will counter with Taylor Guerrieri (1-1, 2.77 ERA).

PARK PROMOS
Regions Field hosts Star Wars Night Saturday and celebrates with Pyro-Palooza postgame - the largest fireworks show of the season. Fans are encouraged to come in costume and will have the opportunity to meet their favorite characters.

TICKET BOOTH
To order tickets, visit Barons.com or call (205) 988-3200. For more information, visit us at www.barons.com, www.facebook.com/birminghambarons or on Twitter: @bhambarons.