PEARL, MISS. (July 30, 2009) - Steve Bray (3-6) deals eight shutout innings on Thursday night as the Diamond Jaxx (18-16) shutout the Mississippi Braves (16-18), 3-0. In 22 innings pitched against the Braves this season, Bray has not allowed a run. The win for the Jaxx evens the series at two games each and also keeps West Tenn in a first place tie with Chattanooga, in the North Division. Travis Garcia drove in two runs and went 1-for4 at the plate. Garcia has hit in eight of his last nine games.
The hero from Wednesday night, Travis Garcia came through for the Jaxx in the top of the fourth inning on Thursday. Garcia blooped a single over the second base bag scoring Marshall Hubbard and Johan Limonta. The two-RBI single for Garcia gave the Jaxx a 2-0 lead. Limonta hit his 18th double of the season in the inning and Hubbard singled.
West Tenn added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning as Marshall Hubbard scored Kody Kirkland's throwing error. Hubbard was hit by a pitch by Braves' reliever Jerome Gamble to open the inning and advanced to third on a hit by Limonta. The Jaxx led 3-0 heading to the bottom of the ninth, but was the final. Johan Limonta racked up his 25th multi-hit game of the season going 2-for4 with a double and a run scored.
Ryne Reynosso (6-6) took the hard luck loss for the Braves, yielding just two runs over seven innings. Reynosso walked just one and struck out nobody.
Steve Bray surrendered just three base over eight innings, earning his third win of the season, snapping a two game losing skid for the righty. Bray tossed 104 pitches which was the third straight time Bray has surpassed the century mark in pitches.
Phillipe Aumont (S, 3) sat down the Braves in order in the bottom of the ninth. Aumont records his first save since July 8th against Mobile.
LHP Nick Hill (3-3, 2.45) starts the rubber game of the five game series for the Diamond Jaxx. Opposing Hill is fellow southpaw Scott Diamond (4-10, 3.69) for the Braves. The Diamond Jaxx lead the season series 11-9 over the Braves.
• Discuss this story on the Southern League message board...
• Digg this story
• Add to Del.icio.us
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
