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 Mississippi Braves

Smokies Comeback, Walkoff in Extras over M-Braves

July 23, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Kodak, TN - Luis Flores hit a two-run home run in the eighth to tie the game after a big comeback and Jae-Hoon Ha hit a walkoff ground rule double as the Tennessee Smokies stunned the Mississippi Braves 8-7 in 10 innings on Tuesday night at Smokies Park.

With the M-Braves (17-15; 56-45) leading 6-1 in the middle of the fourth and already into the Tennessee pen, the Smokies (16-16; 49-52) scored seven of the next eight runs to win and even the series.

Mississippi built up a big lead early, jumping for three first-inning runs against starter Corey Black. Jose Peraza was hit by a pitch and stole second. Kyle Wren singled and Ha misplayed it in center to score a run on an error. Daniel Castro followed up with a single and a Cedric Hunter groundout and Mycal Jones sacrifice fly brought in a run each for a 3-0 lead.

The Braves tacked on another in the second thanks to shaky defense. Barrett Kleinknecht drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch, the second of three in the game for Black. Starting pitcher Greg Ross laid down a sacrifice bunt and Black tried to go to third to get Kleinknecht but Christian Villanueva couldn't handle the throw, allowing a run to come in for a 4-0 lead.

Tennessee got on the board in the second against Ross thanks to a Jorge Soler leadoff triple, coming in two batters later when Charlie Cutler grounded out to second pulling it to a 4-1 game.

Mississippi responded with another run in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings. In the third, Castro walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Hunter got an infield hit toward third to put men on the corners and Kyle Kubitza hit a sacrifice fly to left for a 5-1 lead.

In the fourth, another leadoff walk plagued Black, issuing a free pass to Kleinknecht, who moved up on a groundout to second and came in when Peraza knocked an RBI single and knocked Black out of the game with a 6-1 lead.

Black finished with six runs, five earned, on four hits over 3 1/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts. The Smokies bullpen came in and stumped the Braves through much of the rest of the game starting with Lendy Castillo, while the Smokies' bats started the march back.

In the bottom of the fourth, Addison Russell walked to lead off and Cutler hit a two-run home run, his fourth of the season, to pull it to 6-3 Braves.

Mississippi tacked on another in the fifth against Castillo. Kubitza walked with two outs and Matt Kennelly doubled him home for a 7-3 lead and the last run the Braves would get.

In the bottom of the fifth, another pair came home for Tennessee. Pinch-hitter Dustin Geiger hit a pinch-hit solo home run with one out in the frame- the first pinch-hit homer against the Braves since 2009. Ha walked, Stephen Bruno singled and Russell was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up a Soler sacrifice fly to pull it to 7-5.

Ross was pulled after 4 1/3 frames, allowing five earned runs on four hits and three walks in the no-decision.

The Braves kept the Smokies at bay until the eighth when Ian Thomas allowed a Villanueva single and a game-tying two-run home run to Flores.

In the tenth, John Cornely (6-3) came on in relief with a walk to Pin-Chieh Chen and a single to Jonathan Mota, setting up Ha's double for the walkoff win.

Frank Batista (2-0) picked up the win in relief for the Smokies, pitching a scoreless final two frames. Hunter Cervenka also pitched three scoreless innings in relief for Tennessee.

The Braves look to take the series edge in the third of five games on Wednesday night, with first pitch between right-hander JR Graham (1-4, 5.40) and Smokies right-hander Pierce Johnson (2-4, 3.35) slated for 6:15 PM CT.

Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 6:00 PM CT on 103.9 WYAB and online at MississippiBraves.com.


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Southern League Stories from July 23, 2014


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