PEARL, MISS. (July 28, 2009) - The Mississippi Braves (16-16) send the Diamond Jaxx (16-16) losing streak to seven in a row, taking two games from the Jaxx on Tuesday night. The Braves powered by West Tenn, 4-1 in game one and out lasted the Jaxx in game two, 1-0. The seven game losing skid matches a season high set from April 14th to 21st when the Jaxx dropped seven straight to Jacksonville and Tennessee. Jason Heyward went 4-for-6 with a homer and three RBI in the double-header as his broken bat infield single scored Kody Kirkland to beat the Jaxx in game two, 1-0. The Braves now have won six straight games. West Tenn now falls to one full game behind Chattanooga in the North Division standings after the two losses on Tuesday night.
Game One: Braves 4, Jaxx 1
The Braves came out after two days off and plated two runs on the first inning against Jaxx starter, Luis Munoz (4-5). Brandon Hicks doubled home Matt Young, who walked to lead off the game. Then three batters later, with two outs, Willie Cabrera singled to left, scoring Hicks, giving the Braves a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
The Jaxx scored a run to cut the lead in half when Greg Halman singled home Mel Stocker to start the third inning. Stocker worked an 11 pitch at-bat against Braves starter, Jose Ortegano (1-0) and singled to left to lead off the third. Callix Crabbe followed with a single. Greg Halman was called for interference at second base on a ball hit by Marshall Hubbard. The double-play ended the inning and prevented Crabbe from scoring. Halman finished the game going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Manager Phil Plantier was ejected in the inning. The Braves held a 2-1 lead.
The Braves added to their lead when 19 year old Jason Heyward homered to deep center driving in two and giving the Braves a 4-1 lead. Heyward is listed as the #2 prospect in Atlanta's organization according to Baseball America.
Luis Munoz dealt five innings for the Jaxx surrendering four runs on five hits while striking out two and walking three. Munoz lost his first game since June 24th at Mobile.
Jose Ortegano (1-0), making his Double-A debut deals a complete game for his first victory. He goes all seven innings, allowing just one run on five hits, fanning six and walking just one. The first three batters for the Braves, Young, Hicks and Heyward combine for three hits and three of the Braves four RBI.
Game Two: Braves 1, Jaxx 0
The starter for the Braves, Tim Gustafson left the game after the fourth inning. Gustafson, making his first start of the season, after 13 relief outings dealt four scoreless and hitless innings. He turned things over to Deunte Heath in the fifth.
Jaxx starter, Dan Cortes went six shutout innings, scattering five base hits, while striking out six and walking just two. Cortes escaped a jam in the bottom of the fifth, stranding runners on second and third and a runner at third in the sixth. The six inning no decision for Cortes was his longest in his first three starts for the Diamond Jaxx.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Jason Heyward hit a two out, shattered bat infield single scoring Kody Kirkland for the game winning run. Ricky Orta (3-2) had already escaped a jam in the inning getting a tag out at the plate on a ground ball hit by Kody Kirkland. Heyward was 3-for-3 in game two with the game winning RBI. Orta takes the loss, giving up a run on two hits while walking two and fanning one in 2/3 of an inning. Brett Butts (5-2) earns the win dealing a scoreless top of the seventh.
The Jaxx will try and snap the seven game losing streak on Wednesday night sending RHP Brodie Downs (0-0, 0.00) to hill. Downs will make his first Diamond Jaxx start after making 23 appearances out of the bullpen for Triple-A Tacoma. Opposing Downs for the Braves will be LHP Edgar Osuna (3-2,3.86).
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