After only managing six runs over their past five games, the Barons exploded for eighteen runs, pounding the Huntsville Stars in a slugfest. Five Barons homered in the contest and every player in the lineup got at least one hit. The Intimidators went down big early, and their rally fell short.
In an interesting coincidence, the two starting pitchers for the Barons and Intimidators (Mike Recchia and Jake Sanchez) were both signed by the White Sox last year out of the Independent Frontier League.
Barons 18, Huntsville 9
Trayce Thompson 1-5, BB, K, SB
Rangel Ravelo 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Kevan Smith 2-4, RBI, 2 BB
Keenyn Walker 2-6, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 K
Mike Recchia 5 IP, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 BB, 5 H
Hickory 10, Intimidators 6
Cleuluis Rondon 2-4, BB, K, SB
Trey Michalczewski 2-4, 2 RBI, BB, K
Omar Narvaez 1-4, RBI
Jacob Morris 0-3, 2 BB, K
Jake Sanchez 5 IP, 8 ER, 6 K, 1 BB, 9 H
Star(s) of the Day: I am giving Star of the Day to the minor league veterans of the Birmingham Barons. Referred to by scouts as a “org guy,” it describes an older player who will probably never get to the big leagues or at least not for very long. They won’t show up on prospect lists, but Jaime Pedroza 2-5, HR, 3 RBI, BB, Chris Curley 3-5, 2B, RBI, BB, Christian Marrero 3-6, HR, 3 RBI, Michael Early 2-5, HR, 3 RBI, BB, and Jeremy Farrell 1-5, HR, 2 RBI, BB had huge nights.
Who is Hot: Mike Recchia pitched well in his Birmingham debut, only allowing one run and five hits over five innings. Trey Michalczewski has been heating up for Kannapolis, he’s hitting .333/.381/.389 over his last ten games. Michalczewski’s season OBP of .381 is very impressive at his young age of nineteen. Switch-hitting catcher Omar Narvaez is hitting .344/.389/.344 over his last ten games, raising his season average to .297. Narvaez is a good defensive catcher according to scouts, he has thrown out 50% percent of attempted base-stealers in his minor league career.