It's what they always say: You want to win the last game of the season...'s White Sox Minor Keys post.
The Birmingham Barons did just that, overcoming ninth-inning disappointment with DJ Gladney's walk-off single in the 10th to beat Montgomery, 2-1, for their first Southern League title since 2013.
The Barons were one out away from winning it in regulation. Rikuu Nishida opened the inning with a sensational leaping grab, which increased in importance when Eric Adler gave up a one-out single to Dru Baker. Baker then advanced to second on a wild pitch and reached third on a groundout as the lineup flipped over to Chandler Simpson, and when Adler tried to bust him inside, Simpson opened up and roped a double down the right-field line to tie the game at 1.
The Barons tried to small-ball their way to victory in the bottom of the ninth after Michael Turner's leadoff single, but he was left on third when Sean Goosenberg grounded out to short to send the game into extras.
Adler rebounded from the ninth by stranding the Zombie Runner on a strikeout, lineout and groundout, setting up the top of the Barons order to manufacture a championship. The initial plans were foiled when Nishida pulled back a two-strike bunt attempt, but was rung up on an Austin Vernon pitch that looked high. Fortunately, after a walk to Matt Hogan, a wild pitch accomplished what Nishida set out to do and put the winning run 90 feet from home plate with one out.
The Biscuits aborted a battle with Wilfred Veras by intentionally walking him and setting up a force at home, but Gladney made it moot. He bell behind 0-2 after swinging under a fastball at the top of the zone, but when Vernon tried a third consecutive fastball, he left it thigh-high, the Chicago native and ACE alum sent it right back through the box and into center field to end it.
Everybody appeared to make it through the on-field celebration intact. As for the clubhouse celebration, that'll be better assessed this morning.
Birmingham 2, Montgomery 1 (10 innings)
- Rikuu Nishida went 0-for-3 with a walk, HBP, two strikeouts and a stolen base.
- Wilfred Veras singled, walked and struck out three times.
- DJ Gladney went 2-for-5 with the walk-off single and a strikeout.
- Jacob Gonzalez was 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout, and he was picked off/caught stealing.
- Juan Carela: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 51 of 82 pitches for strikes.
- Peyton Pallette: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, one huge scream.
