Game Info: Saturday, August 3 vs. Tennessee Smokies: 6:05 PM: Trustmark Park

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Mississippi Braves

Game Info: Saturday, August 3 vs. Tennessee Smokies: 6:05 PM: Trustmark Park

August 3, 2024 - Southern League (SL)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Mississippi Braves (16-15, 47-52) vs. Tennessee Smokies (19-12, 59-40)

Saturday, August 3, 2024 - 6:05 PM - Trustmark Park - Pearl, MS

Game 100 of 137 - 2nd Half 32 of 69 - Home Game 44 of 63

Starting Pitchers: LHP Luis De Avila (4-9, 3.42) vs. RHP Antonio Santos (4-3, 3.48)

Watch Live: Bally Live / MiLB.TV / MLB At Bat

Listen Live: 102.1 The Box

Today's Promotions:

Post-Game Fireworks: Stay after the game for another exciting Post-Game Fireworks Show presented by Xfinity.

60th Anniversary of Freedom Summer Commemoration: The M-Braves and Two Mississippi Museums Commemorate the 60th anniversary of The Mississippi Summer Project of 1964, also known as Freedom Summer, was an initiative undertaken by civil rights groups to bring people from across the nation to Mississippi to join the fight for Black residents' democratic rights.

Recent Roster Moves

8/3: RHP Darius Vines reported to Mississippi

8/3: RHP Anthony Vizcaya released from the Mississippi roster

8/3: C Nick Clarno transferred to Mississippi from High-A Rome and placed on the Development List

STARTING LINEUPS

TODAY'S GAME: The M-Braves continue a two-week, 12-game homestand on Saturday night with game five of a six-game series against the Tennessee Smokies at Trustmark Park. The M-Braves will welcome the Pensacola Blue Wahoos for six games next week, August 6-11.

FINAL MEETING WITH THE SMOKIES: This week marks the final series between the Smokies and M-Braves. Since 2005, the Smokies lead the all-time series, 107-98. The Smokies took four out of six from the M-Braves at Smokies Stadium, June 18-23.

ABOUT FRIDAY NIGHT: Justin Dean delivered a spectacular catch and capped off his three-hit night with a ninth-inning walk-off single to complete a comeback and defeat the Smokies 7-6 on Friday night. The M-Braves erased a five-run deficit to pick up their first win of the series. Dean was 3-for-5 with an RBI, and a run scored in the win. Cal Conley scored the game-winning run and continued his hot series, going 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI, two steals, and a walk. Called into early duty on Friday night, Mississippi's bullpen was spectacular. Jonathan Hughes, Rolddy Munoz, and Jorge Juan combined for 6.0 innings of shutout relief on two hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts. All pitched 2.0 innings, with Juan earning the win.

ANOTHER WALK-OFF WINNER: The M-Braves' last three wins at Trustmark Park have come on walk-offs. Before the All-Star break, Tyler Tolve hit a walk-off homer to beat Birmingham 3-2 on July 13, and on July 14, Justin Dean delivered a walk-off single to beat the Barons 5-4. Dean again delivered on Friday night with a ninth-inning single to beat Tennessee 7-6.

TO THE TOP...OF THE LONGEST SCORELESS STREAKS: Pearl River CC and Southern Miss product Landon Harper hasn't allowed a run over his last 12 M-Braves outings and 22.0 innings pitched, dating back to June 2, striking out 20 and walking none. He hasn't allowed an earned run over his last 28.1 innings between Rome and Mississippi. The 24.1 innings without a run is the third-longest in the Southern League this season and the longest currently. Overall, Harper is 1-0 with a 0.99 ERA (3 ER/27.1 IP), one walk, and 24 strikeouts in 13 appearances, two starts. All three runs allowed were in his first outing.

Halligan's Streak Ends: Patrick Halligan didn't allow a run over 10 appearances and 10.1 innings with 10 strikeouts to four walks from June 27 to July 28, the third-longest streak by an M-Braves pitcher this year.

ROSTER MOVES: The M-Braves have made eight roster moves since Sunday. On Friday, RHP Darius Vines was outrighted to Mississippi from Atlanta and activated on Saturday. Also on Saturday, RHP Anthony Vizcaya was released, and C Nick Clarno was transferred to Mississippi and placed on the Development List. C Javier Valdes was released on Sunday, INF David McCabe was reinstated from the 60-day IL and transferred to Mississippi on Tuesday, OF Geraldo Quintero was placed on the IL, and OF Bryson Worrell was transferred to Mississippi from Rome on Wednesday.

IMPRESSIVE ON-BASE STREAK: INF Keshawn Ogans has reached base safely in 26 of 28 games since June 9. The Cal product saw his team-high 24-game on-base streak that started June 9 end on July 30. Over the streak, he hit .287 with a .374 OBP, 3 doubles, 5 RBI, 13 runs, 9 walks, 3 HBP, and 4 steals. The streak was the fourth-longest in the league this season and the longest by an M-Brave since Jesse Franklin V had a 23-game on-base streak, July 16-August 12, 2023. Michael Harris II had a 31-game on-base streak from April 8 to May 13, 2022. Ozzie Albies has the club record with a 36-game on-base streak from April 24 to August 2, 2016.

M-BRAVES SET SINGLE-SEASON STEALS RECORD...IN 88 GAMES: With five stolen bases on July 20 at Pensacola, the M-Braves set a new single-season record for steals in a season, surpassing the previous mark, 159, set by the 2007 club.

Leading Double-A: Mississippi leads Double-A with 185 stolen bases (185-for-229, 81%) through 99 games. The closest club is Montgomery, with 161. The M-Braves are on pace for 256 (1.87 per game) in 2024. Birmingham set the Southern League record with 264 in 1989.

Four players have reached 30+ steals: The M-Braves became the first team in Minor League Baseball to have four players with 30+ steals in 2024. Justin Dean leads the way and leads Double-A with 46. Cal Conley is 6th with 33, Cody Milligan is 7th with 31, and Geraldo Quintero is 8th with 30 ... The last team with 4+ players with 30+ steals was the 2022 Down East Wood Ducks (5). The most by a team since 2005 was the 2017 Lancaster Jethawks with six players.

Justin Dean set a new M-Braves single-season record on July 28 at Montgomery in just 88 games, passing Matt Young's previous record of 42 (''09). Dean has 46 stolen bases and is the M-Braves all-time leader with 116.

HACKENBERG BECOMES STRIKEOUT KING: RHP Drue Hackenberg became the first pitcher in Minor League Baseball to strike out 16 on Sunday, July 21 at Pensacola, setting a new club record. He became the 21st Minor League pitcher since 2005 to record 16 or more strikeouts in a single game and the first since Matt Sauer, who totaled 17 for Double-A Somerset on Aug. 25, 2022.

The 16-K Game: The 22-year-old didn't walk a batter over 7.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits and retiring the final 14 Pensacola batters. The righty retired the side in order in the first inning -- coming one strike shy of an immaculate frame -- before retiring the side again in the second. Hackenberg topped the M-Braves' strikeout record of 14 previously held by Ian Anderson (June 28, 2019) and Tommy Hanson (June 25, 2008).

ROAD WARRIORS: The M-Braves are coming off a 6-3 road trip to Pensacola (3-0) and Montgomery (3-3) and are 9-3 over their last 12 games. After starting the season 6-14 on the road, the M-Braves are 22-14 over their last 36 games away from Trustmark Park, including a 4-1 mark in a home-away-from-home series at Toyota Field, June 13-16. They won a club record nine straight games away from Pearl from May 12 to June 5. The streak included a six-game sweep in Chattanooga, May 21-26.

DE AVILA IS DEALIN': Luis De Avila has a team-best 10 quality starts this season, and in his last eight starts since June 2, De Avila leads the Southern League with a 1.65 ERA (49.0 IP/9 ER), 38 strikeouts, and 13 walks. During that time period, he ranks among the league leaders in wins (T-4th, 4), opponents' batting average (4th, .194), and WHIP (2nd, 0.96). This season, De Avila ranks among the league leaders in innings pitched (T-4th, 97.1 IP), ERA (9th, 3.42), opponents' batting average (9th, .236), and starts (T-5th, 18).

THE MEJIA MAGIC: Ian Majia ranks among the league leaders in ERA (5th, 2.96), wins (T-2nd, 7), strikeouts (T-5th, 93), WHIP (8th, 1.20), and opponent's batting average (5th, .222). Mejia set a new club record, not allowing a run over 30.1 innings from April 28 to May 5. Mejia was named Southern League Pitcher of the Month for May and was 4-0, not allowing a run in 26.2 innings, five walks to 30 strikeouts.

M-BRAVES TO THE SHOW: INF Nacho Alvarez Jr. became the eighth M-Braves alum to make their MLB debut on July 22 for Atlanta. Nacho joined and became the seventh M-Brave alum to make their major league debut on July 9 for Colorado. Gordon joined Roddery Munoz (4/20, MIA), Tyler Ferguson (5/7, OAK), Spencer Schwellenbach (5/29), Justyn-Henry Malloy (6/3, DET), Hurston Waldrep (6/9), C.J. Alexander (6/24, KC), and Tanner Gordon (7/9, COL). Overall, 176 former M-Braves have made their Major League debut.

THE JUCO BANDIT HAD A GREAT JUNE: Cody Milligan homered in back-to-back games on June 25-26, for the first time as an M-Brave and had three multi-hit games in the Montgomery series. The Binger, OK native, went 9-for-24 with two doubles, two homers, four RBI, three runs, and two stolen bases in the June 25-30 series. In June, Milligan hit .300 and was T-5th in the league with 11 extra-base hits, plus eight RBI, five walks, and six stolen bases. His .538 slugging percentage ranked seventh in the league.

"MAY" BE A GOOD SIGN...NO JUNE SWOON: After going 7-15 in April, the M-Braves went 28-26 the past two months, completing a 16-10 May and 12-14 June. The 16 wins in May were the fifth-most in Double-A. The Mississippi pitching staff gave up the second-fewest runs in Double-A (86) during the month and posted a 3.19 ERA.

WALDREP TO THE SHOW: RHP Hurston Waldrep was promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett on May 8, and after just one start in Triple-A, he made his major league debut on June 9 at Washington. He was the 173rd player to move from Mississippi to "The Show." The Atlanta Braves' first-round pick in 2023 (24th overall) went 3-1 with a 1.19 ERA from Mississippi in May, with 31 strikeouts to seven walks.

MEJIA TOSSES FIFTH NO-HITTER IN M-BRAVES HISTORY: RHP Ian Mejia's seven-inning no-hitter in game two of the Friday, May 17 doubleheader vs. Biloxi was the fifth no-hitter in M-Braves history, and first individual one since Tommy Hanson's nine-inning no-hitter on June 25, 2008, vs. Birmingham at Trustmark Park. The M-Braves beat the Barons 6-0, and Hanson walked three and struck out 14 in the game. There have been three combined nine-inning no-hitters in team history (Julio Teheran & Tyrelle Harris, 8/2/10 vs. Mobile, Ian Anderson & Jeremy Walker, 6/28/19 vs. Jackson (TN), and Bryce Elder & Daysbel Hernandez, 7/10/21 vs. Pensacola.

FINAL SEASON IN MISSISSIPPI: On January 9, it was announced that after 20 years, 2024 will be the M-Braves' final season in Pearl, MS. As of the start of the 2025 season, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves will be relocating to Columbus, GA.

M-BRAVES REACH 1,200 WINS: The April 25, 13-3 win over Montgomery was Mississippi's 1,200th in franchise history. It took the M-Braves until the sixth game of the inaugural season in 2005 to win the first game in club history, which was an April 12, 2005, 7-4 win over the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in game two of a doubleheader at Pringles Park. Jeff Francoeur was 0-for-3, with a walk and RBI, in the game, using a five-run sixth fueled by RBIs by Scott Thorman, Francoeur, and Derrick Gibson. Brian O'Connor got the win for Mississippi.

COACHING STAFF WITH A NEW FLO: After spending one season as manager of the Braves High-A affiliate Rome Braves (Emperors), Angel Flores will take the reins for the first time at the Double-A level, succeeding Kanekoa Texeira. Texeira was promoted to manager of the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers after Matt Tuiasosopo was named to the Braves' Major League coaching staff for 2024. Flores returns to Mississippi, where he served as bench coach in 2022. Flores took over as interim manager from April 26 to May 15, 2022, while Bruce Crabbe took a leave of absence from the club. During the 18-game stretch, the M-Braves went 10-8. During his first season as a full-time manager last year, Flores led the R-Braves to a 34-32 record in the second half and an overall 64-68 mark. Rome closed the year with a 21-15 record in August and September. Overall, he holds a 74-76 record as a manager.

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Southern League Stories from August 3, 2024


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