Birmingham Barons Playoff Series Showcases Top White Sox Talent

While the Birmingham Barons and Jacksonville Suns sat in opposing dugouts during a pregame delay, the pomp and circumstance of both unborn and newborn football seasons was on full display Thursday night.

Fireworks blazed above the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, then crowned a packed crowd at Heinz Stadium as the Steelers and Titans neared kickoff and the start of the 2009 NFL season. In the college ranks, Georgia Tech showcased its highly-touted offense, exploding for a trickery-tinged 21 unanswered first quarter points against Clemson.

Suffice it to say the opening game of the Southern League South Division Championship Series playoffs wasn't on most sports fans' radar. (However, the series can be seen locally on CBS 42.2.)

But there are a few notables and accolades sprinkled around the '09 Barons, a Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, to warrant a few inches of copy somewhere. Most importantly, of course: Birmingham scored its first run against Jacksonville, the Florida Marlins' Double-A club, a good half-hour before either offense in Pittsburgh could reach the end zone.

Secondly, the franchise broke a 103-year-old team record for wins in a season, notching 92 victories for the first time since Teddy Roosevelt was president.

And lastly, this year's group was able to sustain a winning formula despite losing key components via trade, promotion to Triple-A or a recall to the big club. Five Barons were named to the Southern League Postseason All-Star team on Aug. 31: Tyler Flowers (C), C.J. Retherford (2B), David Cook (OF), Stefan Gartrell (OF), and John Ely (RHP). First-year manager Everardo Magallanes also took home Manger of the Year honors, leading Birmingham to its second consecutive Southern League South Division first-half title.

Among the prospects who called Birmingham home for some portion of the '09 season:

• Dan Hudson: 22-year-old went 7-0 in nine starts for Birmingham; '08 draft pick stormed through White Sox farm system in '09, received call to majors Sept. 3
• Fernando Hernandez: closed 20 games for the Barons; posted a 1.71 ERA in 44 appearances
• Jhonny Nunez: promoted to Triple-A Charlotte, also spent portion of August with Sox; recorded 57 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings with Barons
• Mike Johnston: 30-year-old journeyman shined in 11 games with the Barons (0.77 ERA)
• Aaron Poreda: recalled directly to White Sox June 9; spent most of June/July in majors; top pitching prospect in Sox organization packaged in deal that sent '07 Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy from San Diego to Chicago
• Gordon Beckham: entered the '09 campaign ranked No. 1 prospect in White Sox system; in just 38 games in a Barons uniform, hit .299 with four home runs and 22 RBIs
• Tyler Flowers: batted .302 with 13 homers and 43 RBIs in 77 games for Birmingham; promoted to Charlotte and added to Chicago's 40-man roster Sept. 1

A summary of the action at Regions Park Thursday night:

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Barons starter John Ely, who won 14 games during the regular season, coasted through the first four innings before allowing an RBI-triple to right fielder Lorenzo Scott, and Jacksonville's bats ignited for a three-run rally en-route to a 4-2 victory. Suns starter Nic Ungs fanned five batters in seven innings for the win in the best-of-five series.

Ely hadn't lost a start since tossing six innings against the Suns on July 29. The right-hander's line Thursday mirrored that previous outing at Jacksonville, in which he suffered one of just two losses on the regular season.

Catcher Jared Price doubled home Lee Cruz in the bottom of the third to give the Barons an early lead. Price, who assumed starting duties in July when Tyler Flowers was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte, entered Thursday night's game hitting .571 (8-for-14) during September. Shortstop Robbie Hudson also went 2-for-2 with a run scored for the Barons.

Both teams are scheduled to meet again tonight at 7:05 CST, though heavy rains in the area could threaten to delay the final game at Birmingham. The Barons plan to send Matt Zeleski (6-2, 2.05) to the mound against Jacksonville's Graham Taylor (8-7, 3.69).