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SL1 Mississippi Braves

Braves down Mudcats in series opener, 6-3

August 5, 2011 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


PEARL, MS - The Mississippi Braves defeated the Carolina Mudcats 6-3 in front of 3,111 fans at Trustmark Park. The meeting, game one of a five-game series in Pearl, was the first between the two teams this season.

Willie Cabrera drove in three runs on the night with two hits while Ernesto Mejia drove in two. Mejia's two ribbies gave him a total of 70 on the season, 10 shy of the M-Braves single-season record (80) set by Mauro Gomez last year. Antoan Richardson scored three of the six Braves' runs.

In his M-Braves (19-22, 44-67) debut, Chris Cody limited the Mudcats (18-22, 41-69) to just two earned runs on nine hits and one home run. He struck out five in six innings of work.

Carolina starter James Avery went just three and 1/3 innings. He allowed four earned runs on four hits, four walks, and three strikeouts.

The M-Braves jumped on the board to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Antoan Richardson reached after being hit by a pitch and Cabrera walked. Dan Nelson then flew out to center field, moving Richardson up to third. Mejia drove him in on a grounder to short.

Cody led off the third with a walk and Richardson followed with a double to left field. Cabrera delivered a two-run single to center field, extending the M-Braves lead to 3-0.

Neftali Soto led off the top of the fourth with a solo home run to center field, his 25th long ball of the season. Yasmani Grandal then doubled and scored on a Didi Gregorius, making it a one-run game.

The Braves got one back in the bottom of the frame to make it 4-2. Ed Lucas and Cory Harrilchak both singled and Braeden Schlehuber walked to load the bases with one out. Lucas then came in to score on a Cody force out.

Cabrera singled to drive in Richardson from second in bottom of the seventh, extending the Braves' lead to 5-2.

Dan Nelson got things started with a single to right field in the eighth. Mejia then launched a deep fly ball to dead-center, driving in Nelson and giving the Braves a 6-2 advantage.

With the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, Mike Costanzo delivered a deep fly ball into foul territory allowing Bill Rhinehart to tag and score on the play. However, Carolina stranded the bases loaded as David Cook struck out looking to end the game.

Right-hander Zeke Spruill (1-0, 4.50) takes the hill in game two of this five-game series against the Mudcats. He'll counter righty Josh Ravin (0-0, 0.00). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM. Gates open at 5:00 PM.

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