Barons hammer Mudcats

Published in Sports on May 23, 2007 1:47 PM

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ZEBULON -- Despite having one of the league's worst team batting averages, Birmingham erupted for 12 hits and hammered Carolina 12-4 at Five County Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Barons entered the Southern League contest with a team average of .241 and fell just two hits shy of tying their season high.

First baseman Michael Myers, making just his ninth start at first base, was the man for the Barons. Myers blew the game wide open with a second-inning grand slam, making the score 5-2.

Carolina (17-29) only scored two runs in the home portion of the first despite sending eight batters to the plate. Third baseman Lee Mitchell picked up his 31st RBI on the season when his single scored lead-off left fielder Jose Campusano in that first inning. A two-out walk by Dante Brinkley with the bases loaded gave the Mudcats a 2-1 lead which held until Myers' grand slam an inning later.

Myers, who was hitting just .113 going into Tuesday's contest, went 2-5 in the victory with another RBI single in the fourth. He entered the game with three RBI and one run scored on the season, but finished the night with five RBI and three runs scored.

Myers' last run came in the eighth inning when eight Barons batted without getting a hit. Mudcats relief pitcher Scott Tyler walked six batters, allowing three runs in the eighth.

Carolina starter Daniel Barone picked up the loss after just 32/3 innings with six earned runs. Catcher Brett Hayes hit three of the Mudcats six hits with a pair of doubles and a single.

Manager Brandon Hyde penciled in a new name in the lineup card against Birmingham. Shortstop Eric Riggs scored a run and drew two walks in his Mudcats debut. Riggs was signed from an Independent team in Illinois just two days ago.

While catcher John Purdom failed to make an appearance on his first day with the Mudcats, he saw action warming up Carolina pitchers.