SL1 Mississippi Braves

Hunter's Blasts Propel M-Braves over Lookouts

May 24, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Chattanooga, TN - Cedric Hunter pummeled two early blasts and the Mississippi Braves held on through the late innings for a 7-5 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Friday night at AT&T Field.

Hunter staked the Braves to a 5-2 lead through three innings with his pair of early homers. After Mycal Jones led off the game with a double to left-center, Hunter's first homer cleared the wall in right-center to make it 2-0.

The Lookouts (18-29) answered immediately off of Braves starter JR Graham. Second baseman Ryan Adams singled with one out and Jeremy Hazelbaker bunted his way aboard for a hit. First baseman O'Koyea Dickson hit a double down the third base line to plate both runners and tie it 2-2.

But Hunter came through again in the third. After Jones was hit by a pitch and Daniel Carroll singled, he muscled a 420-foot moon shot to right to make it 5-2.

The Braves (26-21) never again gave up the lead, growing it to 7-2 in the fourth. Barrett Kleinknecht walked and was forced out at second on a Braeden Schlehuber fielder's choice. JR Graham laid down a bunt but a fielding error by Adams on the throw to first allowed Schlehuber and Graham to advance to second and third. Jones grounded a single up the middle to plate Schlehuber, and Carroll beat out a potential double play to first to score Graham for the seventh run of the day.

But the M-Braves' work was far from over. Joe Leonard singled to lead off the fifth, but that was the last hit the Braves would register the rest of the game, while the Lookouts tried to mount a comeback.

In the fifth inning, Noel Cuevas hit a one-out double off Graham and Sweeney hit a triple to right-center to make it 7-3. Sweeney scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-4 and end Graham's day, an out shy of the minimum needed for a win.

Graham allowed four runs on seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts. John Cornely (4-1) earned the win in relief, coming into a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth and pitching out of it with just a run allowed on a double play ball, pulling the Lookouts to 7-5.

Chris Reed (3-3) took the loss for the Lookouts, allowing seven runs- six earned- on seven hits over five innings.

Shae Simmons came on for a hitless, scoreless ninth to nail down his 13th save in as many tries.

The Braves go for the series win in Saturday night's fourth game of five, slated for 6:15 PM CT with right-hander Jason Hursh (3-3, 3.45) scheduled to start against Lookouts righty Andres Santiago (0-3, 6.08).

Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 5:45 PM CT on 103.9 WYAB and online at MississippiBraves.com or TuneIn Radio.

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Southern League Stories from May 24, 2014


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