SL1 Mississippi Braves

Jackson Stops Winning Streak at Three on Friday

July 26, 2019 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


JACKSON, TN - The Mississippi Braves (16-18, 49-54)) lost a back and forth contest to the Jackson Generals (18-14, 57-45) on Friday night, 6-4, ending the first leg of the ten-game road trip and stopping the Braves' winning streak at three games. The M-Braves went 3-2 in the series and head south to Mobile, Alabama for a five-game set that begins on Saturday night.

Jackson and Mississippi traded single runs through the first three innings on Friday night. Ryan Casteel had two of the Braves' ten hits and tripled home Daniel Lockhart to put the Braves up 1-0 in the first inning. Jackson tallied a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from Pavin Smith.

William Contreras (2) opened the top of the second inning with 405 foot home run to straightaway center field, giving Mississippi back the lead. Contreras homered for his second straight game and was 2-for-3 on Friday and is 11-for-23 over his last seven games with two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI.

D-Backs top prospect Jazz Chisholm homered in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 2-2.

The pattern continued in the third with Casteel hitting a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Alejandro Salazar and make it 3-2. Mark Karaviotis hit a sacrifice fly to center in the bottom of the third to tie the game back up at 3-3.

Mississippi failed to score in the top of the fourth against Jackson starter Bo Takahashi (W, 7-4) and Jackson took their first lead in the bottom of the frame. All-Star catcher Daulton Varsho hit an opposite-field home run off starter Jasseel De La Cruz (L, 2-6) and Jackson led 4-3.

De La Cruz exited after 4.0 innings and 82 pitches, giving up four runs on eight hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Jason Hursh took over for De La Cruz and pitched a scoreless fifth inning, before running into trouble in the sixth. Jackson brought home two in the inning to extend their lead to 6-3.

Josh Graham pitched 1.2 innings scoreless striking out four and walking two, and Bradley Roney added 1.1 scoreless with two strikeouts to keep the Generals lead at three.

Jackson's Takahashi and relievers Justin Donatella and West Tunnell retired 15 straight M-Braves batters from the third to eighth innings. The bats broke out in the ninth inning against Damien Magnifico (S, 4).

Contreras and Ray-Patrick Didder hit back-to-back doubles, trimming the Jackson lead to 6-4. Luis Valenzuela, who was 2-for-4, singles to place the tying run on base. Magnifico rebounded by striking out Cristian Pache and getting help from his defense to close out the game. Pinch-hitter Carlos Martinez lined out to left-fielder Jamie Westbrook, who doubled up Didder trying to score from third.

The M-Braves finished their season-series with a 10-5 record against the Generals.

The M-Braves travel to Mobile to begin a five-game series against the BayBears on Saturday night. LHP Joey Wentz (5-7, 4.26) will start for the M-Braves against Mobile RHP Jeremy Beasley (5-5, 3.61). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm CT with coverage beginning at 6:50 pm on 103.9 FM, First Pitch App. and TuneIn Radio. The game will also be streamed on MiLB.tv (subscription required).

The M-Braves return to Trustmark Park for a five-game series against the Tennessee Smokies, Aug. 1-5. The homestand features Mississippi State Night, Thirsty Thursday, Cowbell Sticker and Chris Maloney Bobblehead Giveaway and the largest Fireworks Show in Trustmark Park history on Saturday, Aug. 3. Visit mississippibraves.com for tickets or call 888-BRAVES4.

The Mississippi Braves are the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Since the inaugural 2005 season, 144 M-Braves have gone on to Major League Baseball. The M-Braves have made postseason play four times and went on to win the Southern League Championship in 2008. Stop by Trustmark Park or call 888-BRAVES4 Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For the latest news and updates, visit mississippibraves.com or connect with @mbraves on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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