Record
3-3 (August 20-25)
63-57 (overall, 4th place of 8)
22-29 (second half, 6th place of 8)

The Barons split the six-game series with the Biloxi Shuckers, 3-3, featuring a Barons walk-off and a Shuckers shutout.

Although pitching performances were slightly messy this past week, we still saw some great work from Jairo Iriarte and Noah Schultz.

Bats were hot throughout the week, with Jacob Gonzalez outperforming everyone in terms of OPS (1.384). he also hit the most homers (two) and tied Nick Podkul at four for the most RBIs.

August 20: Birmingham Barons 6, Biloxi Shuckers 5 
Juan Carela (4 IP, 4 H, 2 HR, 4 R, 3 BB, 8 K) didn’t have his best start for the Barons, and although he struck out eight Shuckers, he still averaged one run given up per inning. Chase Plymell (3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 4 K) was able to pick him up out of the bullpen, still allowing another run to score but receiving enough run support to keep Birmingham in the game.

Jacob Gonzalez exploded offensively on Tuesday, driving in half of Birmingham’s runs (three), including a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at five, and blasting another in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead – ultimately winning the game for the Barons.

Drew Dalquist closed the game out properly, earning the win after two strong innings, surrendering up only one hit and striking out three.

Game MVP
Jacob Gonzalez (SS) 2-for-3, 2 HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB

August 21: Birmingham Barons 8, Biloxi Shuckers 2
The Barons offense went off for 13 hits as a team on Wednesday, racking up three runs in the first and another five in the third. Jacob Gonzalez picked up where he left off on Tuesday, driving in the first run of the game on a base hit to center. Michael Turner and Adam Hackenberg combined for four RBIs, and Wilfred Veras (3-for-5, 2 R, K) had another great game, posting three hits and getting himself in scoring position to account for two runs scored.

Tyler Schweitzer took the mound for Birmingham and threw for six shutout innings. He gave up just three total hits, struck out six, and also earned the win. Peyton Pallette had come in to relieve Schweitzer and was perfect for two innings. Tristan Stivors didn’t have a great closing performance, as he gave up the two runs that Biloxi scored.

Game MVP
Tyler Schweitzer (SP) 6 IP, 3 H,0 R, BB, 6 K, WIN)

August 22: Biloxi Shuckers 7, Birmingham Barons 5
Riley Gowens (2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 K) struggled through two innings, giving up four in the second as the Shuckers nearly batted around the order. A pair of singles accounted for all four runs, but Gowens’ day was over more quickly than anyone would have liked.

Jordan Mikel and Gil Luna combined for four efficient innings in relief of Gowens, but Max Roberts (1/3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 BB, K) couldn’t get the job done, only lasting one out as he gave up three runs on two hits – earning the loss and the blown save.

Birmingham put together eight hits as a team, with Nick Podkul’s one hit doing the most damage against the Shuckers, launching a three-run homer in the fifth. Shawn Goosenberg and Mario Camilletti also posted two hits a piece, but the bullpen couldn’t hold up.

Game MVPs
Jordan Mikel (RHRP) 3 IP, H, BB, 4 K
Nick Podkul (3B) 1-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, K

August 23: Biloxi Shuckers 1, Birmingham Barons 0
It was a pitchers’ duel for nearly the entire game on Friday before the Barons got shut out. Jairo Iriarte didn’t have his best start, almost spiraling with six walks, but he somehow didn’t allow a run for all five innings. Garrett Schoenle (3 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BB, 4 K, LOSS) cruised for two innings, but a triple and an RBI single in the eighth were the difference in the game. Eric Adler had a near-perfect ninth, however, only walking one as the lone base runner.

Although they didn’t score any runs, the offense certainly had their chances. Birmingham went 0-for-12 with RISP and left NINE on base as a team. Adam Hackenberg led the offense with two hits, but no one could get it done to push a run across the board.

Game MVPs
Adam Hackenberg (C) 2-for-4, 2 K
Jacob Gonzalez (SS) 1-for-3, 2B, BB, K
Eric Adler (RHRP) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K

August 24:  Birmingham Barons 3, Biloxi Shuckers 2
Saturday was a decent, yet efficient, outing from Noah Schultz – allowing two unearned runs and two hits while striking out three in the process. A fielding error from Mario Camilletti and a wild throw on a pickoff behind the plate from Adam Hackenberg accounted for the two unearned in the top of the second. The bullpen would hold the momentum and didn’t allow a run in the following five innings, giving up four hits between Chase Plymell, Peyton Pallette, and Zach Franklin, and Franklin would earn the win.

The interesting thing about this game was that the Barons scored all three runs to win the game without a single RBI. Jacob Gonzalez stole home in the bottom of the fifth in a double steal with Shawn Goosenberg to second, and a wild pitch scored Goosenberg just a few pitches later to tie the game at two.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Barons walked it off, and Terrell Tatum stole home for the win. What a wild game!

Game MVPs
Noah Schultz (SP) 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), 3 K
Jacob Gonzalez (SS) 2-for-3, 2B, SB, R, BB
Shawn Goosenberg (1B) 0-for-1, R, SB, 2 BB, K
Terrell Tatum (CF) 1-for-3, R, 2 K, SB (home to win the game)

August 25: Biloxi Shuckers 5, Birmingham Barons 1
Juan Carela toughed it out through 4 2/3 innings, walking three batters and giving up two runs, including a homer in the top of the third – with all runs stemming from that inning. Carela would get the loss, but Max Roberts and Drew Dalquist also each gave up a run. The pitchers walked the same amount of batters that they struck out (seven). However, there was little to no run support from the offense.

Birmingham was out-hit 9-7, and the only run scored was on a wild pitch in the bottom of the third inning. The bats were otherwise quiet, with the team leaving 10 on base and going 0-for-11 with RISP.

Game MVPs
Tristan Stivors (RHRP) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
DJ Gladney (CF) 2-for-4, 2B

Seven-Day Hitting

Seven-Day Pitching

Jairo Iriarte photo courtesy Birmingham Barons.

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