Birmingham Routs Pensacola 8-0

August 4, 2013

Stephen McCray carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, completely shutting down a Pensacola attack that scored 16 runs the night before in Birmingham’s 8-0 win over the Blue Wahoos on Saturday night at Regions Field.

McCray retired the first 12 batters he faced before giving up a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth to Donald Lutz for Pensacola’s first baserunner. Lutz was erased on a double play. Ryan LaMarre reached on an error by the second baseman David Herbek in the sixth inning, but he was stranded.

The no-hitter extended into the eighth inning before Tucker Barnhart blooped a single into shallow left-center field for the Wahoos first base knock. McCray (10-7) ended up departing after the first two batters reached in the ninth, allowing two total hits in 8-plus innings with six strikeouts and a pair of walks.

The Barons offense provided plenty of cushion for McCray, scoring eight runs for the second straight day. Tyler Saladino led off the first with a walk and came around to score a sacrifice fly from Trayce Thompson to make it 1-0.

In the fourth inning, Mike Blanke blasted a three-run homer off Pensacola starter Daniel Renken to make it 4-0. Birmingham added another run in the sixth on a David Herback single to make it 5-0. All five runs were charged to Renken, who saw his string of seven straight quality starts come to an end. He allowed five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks in six frames.

The Barons left no doubt with an additional three runs in the seventh inning off of Drew Hayes, highlighted by a two-run double from Brandon Jacobs, who extended his hitting streak to 17 games.

Pensacola looks to bounce back with Tim Crabbe (4-8, 3.39) on the mound in Sunday’s middle game. Birmingham will counter with Michael Nix (3-3, 4.76). First pitch from Regions Field is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

story by Kevin Burke

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports