Jordan Groshans (23) and John Gil (1) smacked home runs, including the go-ahead two-run homer by Gil, to lead the Columbus Clingstones (24-21, 53-56) to a 5-3 victory over the Birmingham Barons (20-25, 46-68) and split the series at three games apiece.
Decisive Plays: A Will Verdung RBI single that filtered through the infield started the scoring in the top of the second inning. Birmingham answered in the bottom of the inning when Grant Magill scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at one. Luke Waddell doubled in Verdung in the top of the fourth to regain the Clingstones' advantage, 2-1. Anthony DePino continued his home run streak with a towering two-run blast in the bottom of the fourth to give the Barons their first lead of the afternoon, 3-2. Groshans (23) struck again in the top of the fifth, homering for the third time this week to tie the game at three. The scoring stalled for both clubs until the eighth inning, when Gil (1) connected for his first Double-A home run, a two-run shot that traveled 402 feet over the 400-foot wall in center field at Regions Field. Birmingham recorded its final hit in the bottom of the fourth, and Columbus held on for the 5-3 victory.
Key Contributors: Groshans (2-for-5, HR RBI) and Gil (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) both left the ballpark for the Clingstones. For Birmingham, DePino (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) had a home run in consecutive games after leaving the yard on 8/15.
Notable: Groshans finished the series batting .440 (11-for-25), with 3 HR, 9 RBI, 2 2B, .880 SLG and a 1.361 OPS. Groshans also tallied his 68th RBI of the season and is now two RBI shy of the franchise record of 70, set by Ethan Workinger in 2025. Columbus grows to 7-11 on Sunday games this season and finished the season series 11-7 against Birmingham.
Next Game (Tuesday, August 18): Columbus vs Montgomery, 7:06 p.m. ET at Synovus Park. . Radio Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. ET on SportsVisions 92.1 FM. Stream: Bally Sports Live.
Next Home Game (Tuesday, August 18): Columbus vs Montgomery, 7:06 p.m. ET at Synovus Park. . Radio Broadcast: 6:50 p.m. ET on SportsVisions 92.1 FM. Stream: Bally Sports Live.