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SL1 Mississippi Braves

M-Braves Pull Close in Race with Doubleheader Sweep

August 7, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Jacksonville, FL - The Mississippi Braves came through in the clutch with a doubleheader sweep of the first place Jacksonville Suns on Thursday evening at Bragan Field, winning by final scores of 6-2 and 3-2.

The wins pulled the M-Braves (28-20; 67-50) into a tie with Mobile for second in the South Division race, just one game back from the Suns (29-19; 65-53).

The Braves rattled off 16 hits in the game one win, with seven different hitters racking up multi-hit games. Kyle Kubitza led the way with three hits including a double, and Rich Poythress drove in a pair of runs including a solo home run in the third off starter Jay Rogers (6-4).

After the two clubs swapped a run each in the first inning, the Braves took the lead for good in the second. Gustavo Nunez singled and took second on a Greg Ross sacrifice bunt. Jose Peraza doubled him home with two outs, stole second and scored on a Kyle Wren infield hit for a 3-1 lead.

Poythress led off the third with a solo home run against his former club to make it 4-1. The Braves tacked on another in the fourth and seventh innings to put the game away.

Greg Ross (5-2) picked up the game one win, allowing just two runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking two. Andrew Robinson earned his first save as a Brave. Rogers took the loss, allowing four earned runs on eight hits over three innings.

The night cap was much tighter, taking an extra frame to decide a winner. With two outs in the eighth, Cedric Hunter doubled and Poythress singled to bring home the winning run against reliever Nick Wittgren (4-5).

The single came after each team scored twice in the first seven regulation frames.

Mississippi jumped to a lead in the first. Mycal Jones walked and scored when shortstop Yosmany Guerra threw away a potential double play ball for a 1-0 lead. The Suns tied it with a solo home run by catcher Austin Barnes, his seventh of the year, in the bottom of the first.

Barrett Kleinknecht broke the tie with a solo home run of his own with two outs in the second, his fifth of the season to make it 2-1. He finished the nightcap 3-for-3, accounting for half of the M-Braves' hits.

Jacksonville tied the game in the fourth with more two out production. Left fielder Ryan Rieger doubled and Brent Keys drove him home with a single for a 2-2 tie, where it would stay until the extra frame.

Ryan Kelly (1-2) pitched the final two shutout frames, allowing just a hit and picking up the win. Williams Perez took a no decision, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings, striking out four and walking one.

Suns starter Chipper Smith took a no-decision, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits over four innings. He struck out five and walked two. Wittgren took the loss, allowing a run on three hits.

Now the Braves and Suns have Friday off before continuing the series in Saturday's fourth game of five beginning at 6:05 PM CT. Right-hander Ryan Weber (5-4, 4.29) will get the nod against Suns southpaw Justin Nicolino (10-3, 2.84).

Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 5:30 PM CT on 103.9 WYAB and online at MississippiBraves.com.

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Southern League Stories from August 7, 2014


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