SL1 Mississippi Braves

Late Walks Bite M-Braves in Huntsville

Published on August 4, 2013 under Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Huntsville, AL - A close ballgame tipped in favor of the Huntsville Stars when a game-ending bases loaded walk in the ninth sank the Mississippi Braves 3-2 on Sunday afternoon.

Pinch-hitting for the pitcher with the bases loaded in the final frame, Joey Paciorek saw five pitches - four wide - from his former teammate, reliever Tom Keeling (0-3). That forced in Eric Patterson for the winning run.

That was the second bases loaded walk Keeling issued in the loss. The Braves (22-19; 60-51) entered the eighth with a 2-1 lead when Juan Jaime gave up a single and two walks in relief to load the bases with two outs. Keeling came on in relief and issued a free pass to Mike Walker to tie the game.

The late walks marred an otherwise well-pitched game on both sides. Mississippi starter Mitch Atkins fired 5 2/3 innings and allowed just a run on eight hits. Huntsville hurler Taylor Jungmann allowed just two runs on five hits over six innings of work, but Eric Marzec (3-0) picked up the win in relief after a scoreless top of the ninth.

It took a while for the Braves to figure out Jungmann, who took a no-hitter into the fourth before Tommy La Stella singled with one out. That extended his record hit streak to 22 games.

But the scoring didn't start until the fifth, when Braeden Schlehuber singled and moved to second on a groundout. Atkins then helped his own pitching effort with a ground ball past the second baseman for an RBI single.

Then in the sixth, Robby Hefflinger clubbed an opposite field solo home run to right - his fifth with the M-Braves since his callup from Lynchburg - to make it 2-0 Braves.

Huntsville got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Patterson drew a one-out walk and moved to second on an Atkins balk. Shortstop Hector Gomez, who finished the day 3-for-4, singled to left-center to bring in the run.

Runners stranded were the story of the game for Huntsville as they overcame 18 left on base in the win.

The Braves will take another hack at a series win on Monday in game four of five with the Stars, with first pitch scheduled for 6:43 PM CT. Mississippi right-hander Michael Lee (5-8, 4.16) will climb the hill against Stars right-hander Ariel Pena (5-7, 4.14). Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 6:30 PM CT with the "Countdown to First Pitch" on 103.9 WYAB and online at MississippiBraves.com.

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