SL1 Mississippi Braves

G-Braves Rally for 4-2 Win

April 28, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Huntsville, AL – With frustration mounting for the second straight day, Greenville needed a spark. The Braves stranded 12 runners in a 3-1 loss Sunday afternoon, and Huntsville was poised to win another, up 2-1 in the ninth. With two outs and a runner at second, Pete Orr delivered Greenville's first clutch hit of the series, a game-tying single to left. Cory Aldridge closed the deal with a two-run homer in the 10th, and the Braves' 4-2 victory snapped Huntsville's three-game winning streak. The Stars (14-10) maintained a one game lead in the Southern League West Division.

Greenville (12-11) helped Huntsville's cause with critical errors in the second and fourth. Richard Lewis booted Cristian Guerrero's ground ball to lead off the second. One out later, Mike Kremblas singled Guerrero to second. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Chris Barnwell's groundout to short plated Guerrero for a 1-0 Stars lead.

In the fourth, Richard Paz drew a one-out walk and took second when Kremblas was hit by a pitch. On the 1-2 pitch to Barnwell, Paz took off for third. Catcher Lee Evans' throw bounced past Orr and down the leftfield line, allowing Paz to score for a 2-0 advantage.

Greenville began its comeback in the seventh, when Jason Fitzgerald and Aldridge singled to start the frame. Kelly Johnson laid down a sacrifice bunt that pitcher Pedro Liriano could not field cleanly. The error left the bases loaded with none out. Evans bounced into a force play at second, beating the relay to first for a run batted in. With runners at first and third and one out, Ryan Miller replaced Liriano and retired pinch-hitter Adam LaRoche on a popout to second. Miller then fanned Orr to strand two runners and preserve a 2-1 Stars lead.

In the ninth, Johnson led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice. Pinch-hitter Keoni DeRenne flied to left, and Orr faced Matt Parker as the Braves' last hope. He lined Parker's 1-1 pitch into left for a single that scored Johnson with the tying run.

Aldridge capped a spectacular night with his 10th-inning heroics. With two outs and a runner at first, he hammered Parker's 2-1 over the rightfield fence for a 4-2 Braves lead, their first of the night. Alrdridge finished 4-for-5 with three singles, a homerun, two runs batted in one run scored.

Joe Winklesas pitched a scoreless 10th for his second save of the season. Willie Collazo (2-0) notched his second win, tossing a perfect ninth. Parker (0-1) suffered his first loss, permitting three runs on five hits over two innings. Liriano and Greenville's Bubba Nelson authored outstanding starts. Liriano gave up one run on four hits and three walks while fanning three in 6 1/3 innings, and Nelson surrendered two unearned runs on two hits and one walk with five strikeouts over six innings.

Huntsville righty Ben Diggins (2-1, 2.05) meets Braves right-hander Brett Evert (1-2, 4.58) in the series finale Tuesday at Joe Davis Stadium. First pitch is 12:05 p.m.

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Southern League Stories from April 28, 2003


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