Barons Clinch First-Half Title

Huntsville, AL - A walkoff RBI single by Erik Komatsu provided the final punch as the Huntsville Stars (36-32) edged the Birmingham Barons (39-29), 6-5, Friday night in front of 1,212 fans at Huntsville's Joe W. Davis Stadium. Despite the loss the Barons clinched a playoff berth as champions of the first-half Southern Division with Mobile's loss to Montgomery.

In the bottom of the first inning the Stars claimed an early 4-0 advantage when Komatsu lined a one-out double to right field and dashed to third on Sean Halton's infield single. Following a double by Steffan Wilson that plated Komatsu and bumped Halton to third, Angel Gonzalez lined a RBI infield single that scored Halton. After a groundout advanced Gonzalez to second base, Anderson De La Rosa lined a two-run single to left field that cleared the bases and knocked home the final two runs of the inning.

Birmingham cracked the scoreboard in the third inning when Tyler Kuhn reached on a fielder's choice, dashed to second on a single by Brandon Short and scored on Christian Marrero's single to center field, 4-1.

The Barons narrowed the gap to 4-3 in the fifth inning when Marrero drew a one-out walk and scored on a two-run home run by Seth Loman over the left-center field wall.

In the seventh inning, Kenny Williams, Jr. cracked a leadoff single and sprinted to third on a double by Greg Paiml. With runners on second and third, a sacrifice fly lifted by Justin Greene plated Williams as Paiml dashed to third. Kuhn added a RBI single that knocked home Paiml as the Barons took a one-run lead, 5-4. The Stars knotted the game at 5-5 in the eighth inning when Gonzalez reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a RBI double to left field by De La Rosa.

In the ninth inning Sergio Miranda was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Pinch-runner Matt Cline scampered to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Komatsu's game-winning single off Barons reliever Brian Omogrosso, 6-5.

Huntsville reliever Jim Henderson (2-0) earned the victory after he hurled 1.0 scoreless IP with one hit. Michael Bowman registered a no-decision for the Stars after he tossed 6.0 IP with five earned runs on 7 hits, 1 walk and 4 strikeouts.

Omogrosso (0-2) suffered the defeat after the reliever surrendered one earned run on one hit in 0.1 IP in the ninth inning. Justin Edwards received a no-decision after the southpaw surrendered four earned runs on 8 hits, 2 walks and 1 strikeout in 6.0 IP.

Birmingham and Huntsville continue their six-game series with game five Saturday night at Huntsville's Joe W. Davis Stadium, with first pitch set for 6:43 p.m. The Barons will send right-hander Terry Doyle (1-1, 3.00) to the mound while the Stars oppose with right-hander Cody Scarpetta (3-3, 4.12).

Birmingham Barons tickets are currently available on the web, over the phone or by visiting the Regions Park Box Office. For ticket information, game schedule, or promotions calendar, call (205) 988-3200 or visit www.barons.com, www.facebook.com/birminghambarons or on Twitter: @bhambarons.