SL1 Mississippi Braves

Braves Swept After Blowing Five-Run Lead

Published on August 7, 2007 under Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


The Huntsville Stars finished off a five-game sweep of the Mississippi Braves Tuesday night at Trustmark Park. The Braves jumped out to a 5-0 lead behind the strong pitching of Francisley Bueno. The five-run lead wasn't enough as the Braves' bullpen allowed seven runs in the final three innings and Mississippi fell, 7-5.

The M-Braves jumped out to their biggest lead of the series with a four-run second inning Tuesday night. Kala Ka'aihue got things started with a double to right-center and he came around to score on a single by Mark Jurich. Jurich moved to second on Van Pope's single to left and came in to score on Clint Sammons single. With Pope at third, Francisley Bueno bunted Sammons over to second to put two runners in scoring position for J.C. Holt. Holt lined a single to center field that plated Pope and Sammons and gave the Braves a 4-0 lead.

In the Braves next at-bat, Kala Ka'aihue walked and moved to third on a double by Josh Burrus. He then came in to score when Mark Jurich's grounder was misplayed by Hernan Iribarren. Ka'aihue's run extended the Braves lead to 5-0.

The Braves' 5-0 lead wasn't enough though. Huntsville cut the Braves lead to 5-2 in the seventh, and took the lead in the eighth. Braves' reliever Brad Nelson gave up two runs on two hits in the seventh. Brendan Katin drew a leadoff walk and scored on Mel Stocker's pinch-hit triple. Stocker then came home on Alcides Escobar's single to right field.

The Stars finished off the Braves in the eighth. Reliever Wes Wilkerson gave up four runs on four hits and a walk. Steve Sollman started the inning with a bunt single to third and Adam Heether walked to put runners at first and second. Lou Palmisano then singled to load the bases and Iribarren doubled scoring Sollman and Heether. Katin then shot a single to center that scored Palmisano and Iribarren to give the Stars their first lead of the game at 6-5.

Sollman walked, stole second, and scored on an error in the ninth to give the Stars a 7-5 advantage.

Francisley Bueno threw six strong innings for the M-Braves as he shut out the Stars on seven hits. He left the game with a 5-0 lead. Brad Nelson gave up two runs in his inning of work and Wes Wilkerson gave up four runs in his inning to get the loss. He fell to 0-1 on the year. Phil Stockman gave up an unearned run in an inning of work.

Sam Narron, who threw a complete game shutout in his last outing, gave up five runs on eight hits in five innings of work. Bo Hall, E.J. Shanks, and David Johnson combined to throw four shutout innings. David Johnson recorded his fourth save of the year and his second of this series.

After five games against the Huntsville Stars, the M-Braves welcome the Mobile BayBears to town for game one of a five-game series Wednesday night. The Braves will send righty Moises Hernandez (1-1, 6.42) to the hill while the BayBears will counter with righty Chris Kinsey (4-6, 4.38). The first 1,500 fans at Trustmark Park Wednesday night will receive the fourth in a series of M-Braves Souvenir Baseballs.

Braves Bites:

* Francisley Bueno shut out the Stars through his six innings and left the game with a 5-0 lead. * J.C. Holt went 2-4 with two RBI. * Kala Ka'aihue went 1-3 with a double and two runs scored. * Eight of the nine M-Braves starters had at least one hit.

Check out the Mississippi Braves Statistics

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Southern League Stories from August 7, 2007


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