BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A 5-4 walk-off win in the 10th inning capped off a historic night in attendance at Regions Field, and led the Barons to their first win over the Lookouts of the six-game series.
On the field, late-inning dramatics set up a walk-off single for Marcus Lemon. Trailing 4-2 going to the ninth inning, Nicky Delmonico stepped to the plate with two on and two outs. Tim Anderson stood at first and Tony Thomas at second when Delmonico ripped a double into right to plate both, tying the game 4-4.
First baseman Danny Hayes followed up in the 10th with his third triple of the year to lead off the frame. Brian Fletcher subbed in as a pinch runner, and Chattanooga reliever Brandon Peterson intentionally walked both Thomas and Joey DeMichele, loading the bases. Catcher Dallas Tarleton struck out, but Lemon made the Lookouts pay with an RBI single to drive in the winning run.
Birmingham out-hit Chattanooga 12-6 and danced around three errors en route to the victory.
In his last start, Aaron Slegers walked off the mound after being beat around for six runs in four innings of work. That version of Slegers didn't show-up versus Birmingham. In his fifth start at the Double-A level, he went seven strong innings by allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks. In four of his five appearances since being promoted, he's gone at least six innings and allowed three earned runs or less.
Alex Wimmers was able to get two outs in the bottom of the ninth but a clutch double plated a pair of runs and Slegers masterful start did not figure into the final decision.
Brandon Peterson replaced Wimmers for the tenth and allowed a lead-off triple as Shannon Wilkerson was removed after crashing into the wall trying to make a game-saving catch on the play.
Before being injured, Wilkerson scored two runs out of the lead-off spot and was helped out by a 2-for-4 night from Jorge Polanco as the number two hitter.
Adam Brett Walker smacked his 30th double and drove in his 101st RBI during the team's big three-run sixth inning.
Box