SL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: Biscuits score early, hang on for Game 1 win

Ty Johnson started and went six innings for the Biscuits in their Game 1 win over Birmingham in the Southern League Championship Series on Sunday. The Biscuits go for the sweep on Tuesday at Riverwalk Stadium. (Courtesy Montgomery Biscuits)

By TIM GAYLE

The Montgomery Biscuits scored two runs in the second inning and three pitchers protected the lead for a 2-1 victory in the first game of the Southern League Championship Series at Birmingham’s Regions Park on Sunday afternoon.

Will Simpson tripled and scored on a groundout to break a scoreless tie and Gregory Barrios singled, stole second and scored on a single by Noah Myers, who went 2 for 3 to account for all four of the Biscuits’ hits.

The Barons had just five hits, including a solo home run to left field by Ryan Galanie in the sixth.

Montgomery starter Ty Johnson (8-6) pitched the first six innings and allowed just one run on four hits while striking out five and walking one.

Austin Vernon pitched into the eighth, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out three. In the seventh, he struck out two of the four batters he faced, sandwiching outs around a walk to Calvin Harris. In the eighth, Vernon allowed a leadoff single to William Bergolla, then retired the next two batters before he was replaced by Alex Cook.

Cook picked up his fifth save of the season, and second in as many games, by striking out Wilfred Veras to end the eighth, then striking out two of the final three batters he faced in the ninth after allowing a leadoff walk to Caden Connor.

 The Biscuits return home to decide the Southern League championship at Riverwalk Stadium. The two teams will play on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m., with a win by Birmingham forcing a third and deciding game on Wednesday at Riverwalk at 6:35 p.m. Biscuits’ ace Brody Hopkins will get the start for Montgomery in Tuesday’s game.

Tuesday’s game will mark the fifth time the Biscuits have played for the Southern League title. In 2006, Montgomery won the best-of-five series in four games against Huntsville and in 2007 repeated as league champs by winning the fifth game against Huntsville.

In 2021, the Biscuits lost the fifth game to the Mississippi Braves, while in 2024 the Barons swept the Biscuits in the best-of-three series.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISIONAL SERIES

TUESDAY

Montgomery 7, Biloxi 2

Chattanooga 8, Birmingham 6

THURSDAY

Montgomery 4, Biloxi 2

Birmingham 4, Chattanooga 0

FRIDAY

Birmingham 9, Chattanooga 6

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

SUNDAY

Montgomery 2, Birmingham 1

TUESDAY

Birmingham (83-59) at Montgomery (81-60), Riverwalk Stadium, 6:35 p.m.

WEDNESDAY (if necessary)

Birmingham at Montgomery, Riverwalk Stadium, 6:35 p.m.