It turns out that Game 1 of the Southern League Division Series will not haunt the Birmingham Barons.
Despite blowing a 6-0 lead at home on Tuesday, the Birmingham Barons advanced to the Southern League Championship Series by following up Thursday's 4-0 win over the Lookouts with a 9-6 victory in Game 3 on Friday.
The Barons built early leads of 2-0 and 4-2, and unlike Game 1, they kept finding ways to add on. While Riley Gowens had a rare off night, Lucas Gordon made his first relief appearance of his professional career -- not counting the tune-up outings in the Arizona Complex League between being drafted and sent to a full-season affiliate -- and delivered three innings of one-run ball to quiet the Lookouts.
The Barons will advance to play the Montgomery Biscuits in a rematch of last year's championship, except the Biscuits have home-field advantage this time around. Game 1 will be at Regions Field Sunday, followed by Game 2 on Tuesday in Montgomery, and, if necessary, Game 3 the following night. Game 3 was not necessary last year.
Charlotte 8, Durham 7
- Tim Elko and Bryan Ramos both were 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Duncan Davitt: 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 58 of 97 pitches for strikes.
Notes:
*Davitt finished the season with 152 innings thrown between his time in the Rays and White Sox organizations.
Birmingham 9, Chattanooga 6
- Rikuu Nishida went 1-for-5 with a walk.
- William Bergolla, 2-for-4 with a sac fly and a stolen base.
- Sam Antonacci was 2-for-3 with a walk and an HBP.
- Ryan Galanie was 1-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base.
- DJ Gladney, 2-for-4 with a triple and a strikeout.
- Riley Gowens: 3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 46 of 75 pitches for strikes.
- Lucas Gordon: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 37 of 55 pitches for strikes.
Notes:
*Birmingham advances to the best-of-three Southern League Championship Series against Montgomery.
*That's the last time the Barons will play at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, as the Lookouts will open a new ballpark called Erlanger FIeld next year.
