Seven-run fifth leads Birds to come-from-behind win

Chester Bird made several early mistakes, leading to four unearned runs and a five-run deficit, but came from behind with a seven-run fifth inning en route to an 8-5 win over St. Louis Park.

The Birds' starting pitcher, Jimmy Heck, had four errors made behind him and lasted just three innings, allowing five runs on six hits but only one run was earned.

Meanwhile, John Gallice cruised through the early innings, getting the game's first 10 outs before Gabe MacDonald's single through the left side broke up his no-hit bid.

After Heck needed 64 pitches to get through three innings, he gave way to John Kernan, who scattered five hits over three and one-third scoreless innings of work.

Still, Chester Bird was held off the scoreboard until the fifth, when Marcus Barone led off the inning with a bunt single. Kernan followed with a single inside of third base and Jack McGinn reached base on an error to load the bases.

Entering the game, the Birds were just 3-for-36 on the season with the bases load but consecutive singles by Robby Sutherland, Heck and Greg Zeman made the score 5-4. Joe Melles tied the game by plating Heck with a sacrifice fly and Barone and Kernan would both add RBI singles to make it a 7-5 game.

In the sixth, Heck hit his first home run of the summer, with two out, to give his team a three-run lead.

After getting the first out of the seventh inning, Kernan gave up a walk and a single before giving way to Barone, who took over with runners on first and third.

Barone needed just four pitches to get a pop out and a ground out to close out the win and earn his first save of the season.

Kernan earned the Boost Nutritional Drinks player of the game with his two-hit effort at the plate and relief effort on the mound, which earned him his first victory of the season.

Six of The Birds' 10 hits came from the bottom of the order as Barone, the six hitter, Kernan, in the seventh spot, and Sutherland, who batted ninth, each had two hits and an RBI. Heck also added two hits and two RBI.

Chester Bird returns to action with five games on the slate this weekend as part of the Jim Hanus Gopher Classic. The Birds' first two games of the tournament take place Friday at BSM Field, with Alexandria on the slate at 3:30 p.m., followed by a meeting with East Ridge.