Alcala Shines, But Blue Wahoos Endure Fourth Walkoff Loss To Barons
The Blue Wahoos right now can't seem to shake heartbreak.Or new ways to experience it.The latest unfolded Monday night when Birmingham's Damek Tomscha, a former Auburn Tigers player, led off the ninth inning with a home run on the first pitch, giving the Barons a 2-1 victory and their fourth
The Blue Wahoos right now can't seem to shake heartbreak.
Or new ways to experience it.
The latest unfolded Monday night when Birmingham's
It added into a fifth straight defeat, all against the Barons, and dropped the Blue Wahoos (9-10 second half) under .500 for the first time in two weeks. The Barons (14-5) have won each game in different ways.
The teams will conclude a six-game series Tuesday in Birmingham, then an off day ensues Wednesday that now seems especially well-timed for the Blue Wahoos. Birmingham won its ninth straight home game and 13 wins overall in the past 15 games.
What did go right Monday for the Blue Wahoos was the longest and arguably the best outing of the season from starting pitcher
Alcala had worked into the sixth inning just four other times, but never pitched six complete innings. It was only the third time he held an opponent scoreless and the first time he did it since May 13.
His performance included seven strikeouts, no walks. Of the 82 pitches he threw, 57 were for strikes.
Unfortunately for Alcala and his teammates, Birmingham starter
Tomshaw worked seven complete innings without allowing a run. He scattered six hits. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
The Blue Wahoos scored the game's first run in the eighth inning against reliever
But in the bottom of the eighth, Blue Wahoos reliever
With one out, Luis Gonzalez hit a grounder that briefly handcuffed Kirilloff at first base, allowing Booker to score on the put out.
In the ninth,
In the bottom of the ninth, reliever
Kirilloff's three hits in the game raised his batting average to .285.
Jeff Ames pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Alcala. He got out of a situation in the seventh, following a triple by leadoff batter
Ames retired the next three batters in a clutch relief effort.