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Mississippi Braves

M-Braves Blank Shuckers in Weather-Shortened Game on Tuesday

April 9, 2024 - Southern League (SL)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Mississippi Braves' J.J. Niekro in action
Mississippi Braves' J.J. Niekro in action
(Mississippi Braves)

PEARL, MS - Mother nature brought some fury to the Mississippi Braves (1-3) final home opener on Tuesday night, but not before a 2-0 weather-shortened win over the Biloxi Shuckers (2-2) at Trustmark Park. The three-hit shutout was Mississippi's first victory this season.

Fittingly, a Niekro started the final home opener in club history, and JJ (1-0), the son of Joe Niekro, and nephew of Phil Niekro, dazzled to earn the win. The 26-year-old struck out five over six shutout innings, allowing only three hits and retiring nine of the final ten batters faced in his Double-A debut.

Niekro and Biloxi starter TJ Shook (0-1) were locked in a pitcher's duel until the M-Braves broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Justin Dean doubled and stole third, then leadoff hitter Cal Conley doubled him home to make it 1-0. Geraldo Quintero walked against Biloxi reliever Kaleb Bowman, stole second base, and scored on a Dean single to left.

The 2-0 lead would be plenty for Niekro and reliever Jonathan Hughes, who pitched a scoreless top of the seventh inning.

The game was halted at 8:25 in the top of the eighth inning when tornado sirens blared from cell phones around Trustmark Park. The game never resumed and was officially announced as final at 9:00 pm.

Nacho Alvarez walked three times and reached safely in all four games, pushing his season on-base percentage to .556. Conley is the lone M-Braves player to hit in all four games after going 2-for-4 with a double and RBI on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, the M-Braves and Shuckers will play an 11:05 am Education Day game. LHP Drew Parrish (0-1, 16.20) is scheduled to start against Biloxi LHP Nate Peterson (0-0, --). Coverage will be on 102.1 The Box, MiLB.tv, and Bally Live.

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Mississippi Braves' J.J. Niekro in action
Mississippi Braves' J.J. Niekro in action
   

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