SL1 Mississippi Braves

Braves Down Huntsville with Six-Run Eighth

Published on May 23, 2010 under Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Pearl, MS - Thanks to a big, six-run 8th inning, the Mississippi Braves propelled themselves past the Huntsville Stars to set up a rubber game in the series finale at Trustmark Park. Braves center fielder, Alex Romero, ripped a two-run double in the bottom of the 8th to put the Braves up for good at 5-4. Mississippi picked up four more runs and cruised to a 9-5 win.

The M-Braves scored their first of nine runs in the 2nd inning. Mauro Gomez scored on a sac-fly from Juan Gonzalez to make the score 1-0. In the inning, the Braves picked up their first of a season high, eighteen hits, seventeen of which were singles.

The next at bat for the M-Braves led to another run as Alex Romero, Willie Cabrera and Eric Duncan led off with three straight singles. Duncan's hit drove in Romero and the Braves went up 2-0 vs. Stars' starter, Amaury Rivas. Scott Diamond continued to hold the Stars scoreless through five innings, all while notching three strikeouts. The three K's ties Diamond for second in the league in strikeouts, which means that Mississippi possesses the top two strikeout pitchers in the league. Mike Minor (72) and Scott Diamond (54).

In the 6th inning, the Stars picked up their first run on a home run from Brett Lawrie (his 4th of the season). The M-Braves answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to retake a two-run advantage. Orlando Mercado singled to lead off the at bat and would score on a pinch hit single from Cody Johnson. After the 6th, the Braves led 3-1.

3-1 remained the score until the 8th inning, which is when Huntsville would take advantage of Braves miscues to take their first lead of the game. Lee Haydel singled with one out and then reached third following back to back walks from reliever, Lee Hyde. Caleb Gindl singled in a run to make the score 3-2. The next batter was Chris Errecart, who hit a ground ball to second baseman, Juan Gonzalez. While attempting to induce a double play, Gonzalez threw wide of the bag at second and a throwing error allowed Huntsville to score twice and take a 4-3 lead. Juan Abreu then took the mound for Mississippi and was able to navigate through the rest of the inning without any more runs scoring.

With the score Stars 4 and Braves 3, Mississippi was looking to answer in the bottom of the 8th. Randy Gress and Alejandro Machado led off the inning with singles. Alex Romero then came up and delivered a double off of the right field wall and easily scored Randy Gress. Machado was attempting to score as well and on a play at the plate, Machado used a very clever sliding technique to avoid the tag of catcher Martin Maldonado to give the Braves a 5-4 advantage. Willie Cabrera then picked up an RBI on a sac fly to score Romero and make the score 6-4.

The inning kept rolling along after single from Eric Duncan, a walk to Mauro Gomez and then back to back RBI singles from Travis Jones and Orlando Mercado. For Mercado, it was his 4th hit of the game and his two RBI's made the score 9-4.

In the top of the 9th, Tommy Palica came out of the Braves bullpen to finish it off. Palica gave up one run on a single from Brett Lawrie and then induced a ground out and a fly out to end the game. Final score: Braves 9, Stars 5.

With both teams even at (22-22) and the series tied at 2 games a piece, tomorrow nights rubber game will carry a little more drama with the winner leaving with a winning record. The M-Braves will pitch RHP Erik Cordier (2-3; 4.14) vs. Huntsville's RHP Alex Periard (2-2; 4.05). First pitch is set for 7:05 at Trustmark Park. This will be the last game of a 10 game home stand, of which the M-Braves are (4-5) through the first 9 games.

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Southern League Stories from May 23, 2010


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