Thursday, July 23, 2009

Montgomery Biscuits Lose 3-2 To Birmingham Barons

Montgomery Biscuits[Via email from the Montgomery Biscuits' broadcaster Jon Laaser.]

Justin Cassel turned in six solid-innings and the Birmingham Barons held on for a 3-2 win over the Biscuits in game two of a five-game series at Regions Park on Wednesday night. The Barons claimed the season-series with the Biscuits with the win, now holding a 13-3 record against Montgomery on the year.

The Barons came out swinging against Biscuits' starter Heath Rollins in the first inning as three consecutive singles led to the first run of the ballgame. Jordan Danks led off the game with a solid-single to left field and moved to third when Robbie Hudson sent a swinging-bunt single to third which Jason Bowers threw errantly to first. C.J. Retherford followed with an RBI single to put the Barons on top, 1-0. The run unearned due to the error.

Birmingham added to their lead with a two-out rally against Rollins in the third inning. Rollins walked Stefan Gartrell and Christian Marrero followed with a single. Lee Cruz then ripped a two-run double into the alley in right-center field to extend the Barons lead to 3-0.

Meanwhile, Cassel cruised through five innings before the Biscuits finally picked up their first run in the sixth inning. Cassel had allowed just three singles to Montgomery prior to Rashad Eldridge singling with two outs in the inning. Chris Nowak then rifled a double into the gap in left-center field to score Eldridge from first and cut the Barons' lead to 3-1.

Cassel (3-1) departed after six innings and earned the win for Birmingham. He allowed just the lone run in the sixth inning on five total hits. He walked two and struck just one as he won for the third time.

Rollins (8-9) also left after six innings and took the loss for Montgomery. He battled to allow just three runs -- two earned -- on 10 hits. He walked two and struck out 10.

Ricky Brooks worked two scoreless innings of relief in the seventh and eight innings before handing the game to Barons' closer Fernando Hernandez in the ninth. Hernandez earned his 18th save of the season despite allowing a second run to the Biscuits, keyed by a Cody Cipriano double. He struck out Nevin Ashley to end the ballgame, stranding Cipriano at third base representing the tying run.

Game three of the series is scheduled for 7:05 PM on Thursday night at Regions Park. RHP Aneury Rodriguez (5-10, 5.64) will make the start for Montgomery against RHP John Ely (8-1, 3.31) for Birmingham.

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