SL1 Mississippi Braves

G-Braves Enter Wild Card Hunt With Sweep

August 18, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


GREENVILLE, SC -- The Greenville Braves needed only 11.2 innings to take two games from the Carolina Mudcats Monday night at Greenville Municipal Stadium and vault themselves into serious wild card contention. The G-Braves won the first game 1-0 as G-Braves starter Ray Aguilar (3-4) went five innings and allowed just one hit while striking out six to extend his scoreless streak to 18 innings over his last three starts. The nightcap was called with Greenville leading 3-1 and batting in the bottom of the fifth. With the sweep, the G-Braves are now only 4.5 games behind the Tennessee Smokies in the wild card chase with 13 games to go.

Greenville took an early one run lead in game two on back-to-back doubles from Kelly Johnson and Jason Fitzgerald off of starter Trevor Hutchinson (2-2) in the first frame. The home team made it 2-0 with a run in the third.

The Mudcats scored their only run of the doubleheader in the top of the fourth. Pat Magness picked up a double and scored on a Drew Niles triple into the right field corner. But, the G-Braves responded with a tally of their own in the bottom half of the inning, and Greenville starter Daniel Curtis (4-3) earned the rain-shortened victory.

Game one was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth as Aguilar and Carolina starter Denny Bautista matched each other pitch for pitch. But, Richard Lewis started the fifth frame rally with a lead off walk from Bautista (4-4), and he advanced to second on J.C. Boscan's sacrifice bunt. Charles Thomas then came through with a two-out single to bring Lewis in for the game's lone score.

Right fielder Cory Aldridge may have saved the game with a diving catch with runners at second at third and two outs in the sixth. Billy Sylvester got the final four outs for his 15th save.

Game Notes

Since Aguilar moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation on August 1, he has yet to allow an earned run over his four starts...Thomas, the leadoff hitter, was thrown out on the bases in the first inning of both games; in game one he tried to stretch a single into a double and in the second game he attempted to turn a double into a triple to no avail...The G-Braves play their final home game of the year Tuesday evening against the Mudcats at 7:15 at Greenville Municipal Stadium...Probables are LHP Todd Moser (4-4; 3.24) for Carolina and RHP Brett Evert (3-8; 4.21) for Greenville...It is Two for Tuesday, Twizzlers Tuesday, and Rox America High Energy Section "Cheer-Off" sponsored by Twizzlers Candy, Rox America, Sprint PCS, and WROQ Rock 101 FM...The first 1000 fans will receive a free item from Sprint PCS...Finally, it is Pride in Carolina's Youth Reading Program Night sponsored by Davis Inc., Carolina Pride Hot Dogs, Gatti-Town, The Greenville County Library System, and Home Depot.

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