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Mississippi Braves

O'Dowd's Homer Sends M-Braves to Marathon Extra-Inning Win

April 18, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Jackson, TN - In a back-and-forth 12-inning game, catcher Chris O'Dowd hit a solo home run to send the Mississippi Braves to a 6-5 win over the Jackson Generals on Friday night at the Ballpark at Jackson.

With Carlton Tanabe, typically a catcher, on the mound for Jackson (2-5) in the 12th inning, O'Dowd sent a ball over the right field wall for his first double-A home run and just his eighth professional homer.

The home run was the final act of a thrilling ballgame, headlined by Kevin Ahrens' heroics in the ninth. Trailing 5-3, the Braves (4-4) loaded the bases against reliever James Gillheeney, in his fourth inning of relief work. Ahrens roped a line drive over first for a two-run, game-tying single, forcing extras with the score 5-5.

Mississippi had a chance to do more damage and take a lead in the 9th, but Seth Loman was robbed of an RBI knock by a DJ Peterson leaping snag on a line drive double play.

Bryton Trepagnier (1-0) earned his first win for the Braves, pitching two scoreless relief innings, and Ryan Kelly (S, 3) picked up his third save in as many tries with a scoreless 12th. Tanabe (0-1) took the loss, while Matt Anderson blew a save, his first.

Jake Brigham got the start for the Braves, allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. He was the first of seven pitchers to throw in the game for the Braves. Jackson's starter Tyler Pike lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while walking three.

Mississippi started the scoring in the first. Mallex Smith singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on a Rio Ruiz groundout.

The Braves made it 2-0 in the third thanks to heads-up baserunning by Seth Loman. With Loman and Rohm standing at first and second and two out, O'Dowd grounded a ball to first and beat out a throw for an infield hit. With Pike's attention turned to the call at first, Loman rounded third and scored to double the lead.

Jackson came back with two in the bottom of the third to tie it. Tyler Smith walked, Steve Baron singled and both scored on a fielding error by Emerson Landoni at shortstop.

The Braves broke through for another run in the fifth. Ruiz was hit by a pitch and it was O'Dowd again, this time with a single to plate Ruiz to make it 3-2. The Generals answered in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single by Jordy Lara.

O'Dowd finished with three hits while driving in three of the Braves' six runs.

The Generals took a lead of their own in the sixth against reliever Justin Jackson. RBI singles from Baron and Jack Reinheimer made it 5-3, a score that would stand until Ahrens' ninth inning effort.

The Braves and Generals play the fourth of five games on Saturday at 6:05 PM CT. Right-hander Greg Ross (0-1, 23.63) for the Braves will face right-hander Dylan Unsworth (0-1, 6.75).

Listen live beginning at 5:30 PM CT on the flagship home of the Mississippi Braves, 103.9 WYAB, and online at MississippiBraves.com.

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Southern League Stories from April 18, 2015


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