SL Mississippi Braves

First Place M-Braves Topple Smokies 5-3 on Wednesday, Have Won Eight of Nine

Published on July 14, 2021 under Southern League (SL)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Jalen Miller of the Mississippi Braves
Jalen Miller of the Mississippi Braves
(Mississippi Braves)

SEVIERVILLE, TN - The Mississippi Braves won their second-straight game to start the road trip on Wednesday night, 5-3, over the Tennessee Smokies at Smokies Stadium. The M-Braves have won eight of their last nine and are a minor-league best 35-15 over 50 games since May 19.

The M-Braves stranded a season-high 16 runners on base, including the bases loaded in four of the first five innings, but that couldn't slow down the hottest team in minor league baseball. With Wednesday's win, the club is now a season-best 39-13, going up four games in the league standings. 

For the second-straight night, the M-Braves jumped to an early lead. Justin Dean hit the first pitch of the game from Javier Assad (L, 2-4) into right field for a leadoff single. Dean promptly swiped second base for his league-leading 18th stolen base of the year. Then, after a one-out walk by Drew Lugbauer, Shea Langliers doubled home Dean, then an errant throw allowed Lugbauer to score to put the M-Braves up 2-0.

Odalvi Javier (W, 5-2) made his 11th start on Wednesday night and cruised through the first two innings. The Smokies rallied with two outs and got a two-run double from cleanup hitter Jared Young to tie the game at 2-2.

Those were the only runs Javier allowed in his team-best fifth win, tossing 5.0 innings of two-run ball, on five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.

The M-Braves didn't leave it tied for long, sending eight more batters to the plate in the top of the fourth against Tennessee Assad. Trey Harris hit an RBI double to right field, bringing home Greyson Jenista, who reached on an error. After a two-out walk was issued to Langeliers, the Smokies lifted Assad for left-hander Alex Katz. The lefty walked two straight, including one with the bases loaded to CJ Alexander to increase the lead to 4-2.

Jalen Miller hit a solo home run to begin the top of the fifth inning to make it 5-2. The Braves sent seven more to the plate in the fifth inning but stranded the bases loaded for the fourth time in the first five innings.

Indigo Diaz took over for Javier in the sixth inning and worked around a leadoff walk to keep the three-run advantage. Despite a hit-by-pitch and single Diaz struck out the side in the seventh inning. In his Double-A debut, the 22-year-old struck out three and walked one, yielding one hit, and picking up a hold.

Fresh off his final two innings during the combined no-hitter on Saturday, Daysbel Hernandez (S, 1) took over for Diaz in the eighth. After back-to-back strikeouts, Jared Young hit a solo home run to bring Tennessee within two at 5-3. In the ninth, Hernandez struck out two more in a 1-2-3 inning to secure his first M-Braves save.

Langeliers had two more hits on Wednesday, going 2-for-4 with a double, walk, and RBI. Harris joined Langeliers with two hits by finishing 2-for-4 and reached base safely three times with a double and walk. Harris is batting .324 with 16 RBI over his last 26 games since June 8.

Game three of the six-game series in Tennessee is on Thursday night at Smokies Stadium. RHP Victor Vodnik (0-1, 2.6) starts for Mississippi against RHP Peyton Remy (0-2, 6.20) for Tennessee. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 pm CT with coverage on 103.9 WYAB, mississippibraves.com, and MiLB.tv.

The M-Braves will return to Trustmark Park for a six-game series against the Biloxi Shuckers at Trustmark Park, July 20-25. For tickets, and information on upcoming promotions, visit mississippibraves.com, or call 888-BRAVES4.

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Jalen Miller of the Mississippi Braves
Jalen Miller of the Mississippi Braves
   



Southern League Stories from July 14, 2021


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