The Tennessee Smokes had a lot of momentum going into the second game of the series after the Barons offense fell very flat in the series opener. However, Birmingham was able to unleash some power and defeat the Smokies, 12-5, in a high-scoring game.

Tyler Schweitzer had a solid five-inning start for the Barons, and to make it even better, the offense showed up and provided the run support to back him. Schweitzer gave up two runs on seven hits, struck out two, and walked two more. He gave up one in the top of the first, but the defense made a clutch double play to get out of the inning. Schweitzer settled right in for the next before giving up a solo homer in the fifth to left fielder Cole Roederer.

Easy double play 😮‍💨

Barons: 0 | Smokies: 1
Top of 1 pic.twitter.com/G6VVGPJM7V

— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) September 20, 2024

We love a bounce-back game, and the Barons essentially did just that. The offense put up 14 hits — out-hitting the Smokies, 14-10— and they jumped on Tennessee early, scoring a run in the first after an RBI-single from Michael Turner, and another in the second after Jacob Gonzalez blasted a solo shot to give Birmingham a two run lead!

IT IS GONZO‼️

Barons: 2 | Smokies: 1
Bottom of 2 pic.twitter.com/4r8XVRhDbS

— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) September 20, 2024

The good news is that the Birmingham bats kept up the hard work. They scored three more in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run single from Matt Hogan, and another on a Nick Podkul sac fly. Rikuu Nishida drove in their sixth run of the game in the bottom of the fifth to give the Barons a strong four-run lead. You can really feel when everything starts clicking together for this team, because they are able to capitalize on situations with runners on base — exhibited by going 6-for-18 with RISP — and the pitching also feels much more succinct.

Barons outfielder Matt Hogan with the 2 RBI single that gives the Barons a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.#bhambarons pic.twitter.com/wxqtj7OCJG

— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) September 20, 2024

Birmingham’s bullpen shut down Tennessee for the next three innings. Garrett Schoenle threw for two clean frames, striking out two without putting anyone on base, and Caleb Freeman was efficient for one outside of one walk, but he was able to offset that with a strikeout as well.

The bottom of the eighth nearly turned the game into a full-on bloodbath. The Barons loaded the bases after a pair of singles and a walk, and Terrell Tatum drove two in on an RBI single to give the Barons an 8-2 lead. Mario Camilletti was walked in with the bases loaded, adding another run to the lead. Shawn Goosenberg added an exclamation point to the inning with a bases-clearing triple to center, giving Birmingham a 10-run lead. It was a tough inning for Tennessee, and thankfully they would need a LOT of work to try to come back in the top of the ninth.

Shawn Goosenberg clears the bases for the Barons.

Barons lead 12-2.#bhambarons pic.twitter.com/PEdKlnmGeY

— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) September 20, 2024

While the arm barn was strong up until this point, Gil Luna gave up three runs in the last inning on a three-run homer from the Cubs No. 7 prospect, Cam Smith. The Smokies put a bit more pressure on after that, but Luna was able to get out of the inning after striking out Pablo Aliendo to officially tie the series at one! The deciding game will take place on Friday night, with the winner moving on to the Southern League championship series.