SL1 Mississippi Braves

G-Braves Come From Behind, Take Third Straight

Published on May 12, 2004 under Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


GREENVILLE, SC--Napoleon Calzado beat out a potential inning-ending double play in the bottom of the ninth to allow Juan Velazquez to score the game winning run as the Greenville Braves defeated the Jacksonville Suns 4-3 Wednesday night in front of 1,145 at Municipal Stadium. With runners at the corners and one out, Calzado sent a Yhency Brazoban (3-1) pitch up the middle that shortstop Nelson Castro made a tremendous diving stop on, but Calzado beat Willy Aybar's throw to give the G-Braves their third straight victory.

The G-Braves rallied for two runs in the eighth to knot the game at three. Calzado took a curve ball off his leg to take first and back-to-back singles from Brent Butler and Bill McCarthy made it a one-run game. A slow infield grounder from Johnson plated Butler.

In the ninth, Velazquez took an 0-2 Brazoban offering down the right field line for a lead off double. Pinch hitter Tony Pena then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to third. Following an intentional walk to Adam Stern in order to set up a double play opportunity, Calzado picked up the winning RBI with a fielder's choice.

The game was scoreless for four frames until the Suns got an unearned run in the fifth against G-Braves starter Daniel Curtis. Prior to the inning, third baseman Andy Marte was ejected from the game for arguing a called third strike. Marte's departure forced first baseman Calzado to move to third and J.C. Boscan, the backup catcher, came in to play first. With a runner on second and two outs, Wilkin Ruan sent a chopper down the line that Boscan allowed to go between his legs as Edwin Bellorin came home.

The G-Braves came right back and tied the game in the bottom of the fifth off Glenn Bott. Kelly Johnson smacked a lead off double and went to third on a flyout. Curtis brought Johnson in with a two-out, duck snort single into right.

Jacksonville took the lead in the sixth as Castro blasted a double off the left field wall that brought Nick Alvarez and Derek Michaelis in.

Alec Zumwalt (1-3) pitched three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, to get the win.

Game Notes

The G-Braves three game winning streak matches the season high...The G-Braves will look for the series sweep Thursday evening as they entertain the Suns at 7:15 at Municipal Stadium...Probables are LHP Randy Leek (1-0; 1.86) for Jacksonville and RHP Paul Byrd (NR)...Byrd will be making a rehab start after undergoing Tommy John surgery...Thursday is also Gatti-Town Braves Buddies Night.

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Southern League Stories from May 12, 2004


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