SL1 Mississippi Braves

Jones' Catch Preserves M-Braves' 4-3 Win

Published on June 14, 2013 under Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Kodak, TN - Mycal Jones' diving catch for the final out of the game was an exclamation point on a remarkable 4-3 win for the Mississippi Braves over the Tennessee Smokies on Friday night.

The Smokies had the tying run standing at third in Rubi Silva when pinch hitter Elliot Soto lined a Mark Lamm pitch to center. Jones dove forward and made the spectacular catch to bring home the win. It was his second diving catch of the game.

Silva became the 15th baserunner stranded by the Smokies on the night. They had at least one man on base in all nine innings, and put a runner in scoring position in eight of the nine frames. But Tennessee finished the game 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

A lot of credit for the stranded runners goes to relievers Chasen Shreve, Juan Jaime, Ian Thomas and Mark Lamm, with each working out of a jam while the Smokies threatened to score.

The Braves took a lead in the first. Phil Gosselin led off the game with a walk and Christian Bethancourt singled to put two men on. A double steal moved them to second and third, and Edward Salcedo ripped a two-run double with two outs to score both, giving Mississippi a 2-0 lead.

In the third, the Braves extended their lead by a run. Gosselin led off the inning with a single, Bethancourt doubled, and Jose Martinez walked to load the bases. Christian Marrero then grounded into a double play to put the Braves up 3-0.

But Tennessee kept threatening, ending starter Mitch Atkins' day early. He allowed 3 earned runs against his former team on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings, and was pulled with the bases loaded in the fourth.

Tennessee scored a run in the third on a Silva RBI single to pull to 3-1, then plated two runs in part thanks to a pair of Braves errors in the fourth to tie the game 3-3.

The Braves scored what would become the winning run in the sixth inning. Marrero walked to lead off the frame, moving to second on a wild pitch and to third on a Salcedo ground to short. With two outs, reliever Tony Zych then threw a pass ball, plating Marrero to make it 4-3 Braves.

Jaime earned the win in relief, pitching 1 2/3 innings and striking out four. Zych (2-3) took the loss, pitching just the sixth inning. Starter Austin Kirk for the Smokies allowed three runs on five hits over five innings of work. Lamm earned his 7th save of the season, getting the final two outs of the ninth.

With Mobile's 3-1 win over Pensacola, Mississippi remains in second place in the South Division by a 1/2-game with three games remaining in the first half.

The Braves will go for the outright series win on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 5:15 PM CT from Smokies Park. Right-hander Mike Lee (3-3, 4.83) takes the hill against Tennessee righty Kyle Hendricks (6-2, 2.14 ERA) Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 4:45 PM with the "Countdown to First Pitch" on 103.9 WYAB and online at MississippiBraves.com.

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Southern League Stories from June 14, 2013


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