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SL1 Mississippi Braves

M-Braves Split Thursday Twin Bill with Generals

June 28, 2019 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


PEARL, MS - The Mississippi Braves (5-3, 38-39) split a doubleheader with the Jackson Generals (3-5, 42-35) on Thursday night at Trustmark Park. Jackson starter Joey Payamps (W, 2-3) spun a one-hit shutout against the M-Braves in a 5-0 game one loss. Connor Johnstone (W, 3-0) tossed five shutout innings in the nightcap to clinch an 8-1 victory.

In game one, Payamps didn't allow an M-Braves batter to reach until issuing a fifth-inning walk to William Contreras. The no-hitter was broken up on a sixth-inning single by Daniel Lockhart, who was Payamps' teammate in August 2017 when he threw his only other seven-inning one-hitter against Tennessee. Payamps finished with 89 pitches, outdueling fellow Dominican Jasseel De La Cruz (L, 1-3).

Jackson claimed a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a wild pitch by De La Cruz that allowed Jeffrey Baez to score, but it took four more innings to see another run cross the plate. A two-out, two-run triple by Jazz Chisholm scored Daulton Varsho and Pavin Smith to increase the lead to 3-0, and Baez followed with a single to drive Chisholm in for a 4-0 lead. Varsho capped things off with an RBI triple in the seventh that brought Ben DeLuzio in to score. Baez and Varsho each had multi-hit games, while Chisholm drove in a pair of runs in the win.

De La Cruz allowed four runs on six hits over 6.0 innings in his sixth M-Braves start, striking out four and walking two.

The nightcap belonged to the M-Braves with Johnstone giving the M-Braves a massive lift in a spot start. After a scoreless top of the first inning, the offense handed Johnstone a 2-0 lead courtesy of an RBI double by Riley Unroe and a sacrifice fly by Greyson Jenista. The lead increased to 3-0 in the fourth inning when Jackson starter Bryan Valdez (L, 3-3) issued three straight free passes and the third, a hit batsman of Ray-Patrick Didder, forced home Ryan Casteel. Cristian Pache capped off a four-run inning with a bases-clearing triple to left. Pache's sixth triple of the season made it 6-0.

The M-Braves capped their eight-run offensive output in the sixth inning on Unroe's second knock of the game, a two run single, that scored Didder and Pache to make it 8-1. Pache was 2-for-4 and scored twice, pushing his season-RBI total to 45. Casteel was 2-for-4 and Unroe was 2-for-4. Didder upped his hitting streak to six games by finishing 1-for-2 with two runs scored.

Johnstone improved to 3-0 with 5.0 innings of one-hit baseball, walking one and striking out two. He retired 15 of the final 16 batters that he faced to finish his 55 pitch outing. Thomas Burrows pitched the final 2.0 innings of the game and had his 8.1 innings scoreless streak snapped when Jackson scored their lone run in the sixth inning.

Drew Waters went hitless during the twin bill and saw his 2019 league-best 30-game on-base streak and 18-game hitting streak end. The 30-game on-base streak is the third-longest in club history, and the 18-game hitting streak is the fourth-longest.

The M-Braves have won four of their last five games and look to win their second-straight series to begin the second half on Friday night.

The M-Braves will turn back the clock and serve as the Jackson (MS) Generals on Friday night and take on the Jackson (TN) Generals for game four of the five-game series. Southern League strikeout leader RHP Ian Anderson (5-5, 3.20) starts for the Mississippi version against RHP Bo Takahashi (5-5, 3.19) for the Tennessee version. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm with coverage beginning at 6:20 pm on 103.9 WYAB, TuneIn Radio and MiLB.tv (subscription required).

Thursday's Promotions:

Retro Jackson (MS) Generals Replica Jersey T-Shirt Giveaway - The first 1,000 fans will receive a retro Jackson (MS) Generals Replica Jersey T-Shirt, presented by Visit Jackson.

Jackson (MS) Generals Hat/Jersey Auction: A silent auction will be held on the concourse for player-signed caps. These hats will be available for purchase in the Extra-Innings Team Store. Also the game worn jerseys of Drew Waters, Cristian Pache, Ian Anderson and Kyle Muller will be auctioned as well. All proceeds will go to the Salvation Army.

Dash For Cash - $1,000 in Cash will be spread out in the outfield, and ten lucky fans will have 1 minute to collect as much Cash as possible.

Kids Run The Bases - After each Friday and Sunday home game, kids 14-and-under are invited to run the bases after the game.

Free Fist Bump - As part of our Fan Friday promotion, every Fan coming through the gates will receive a FREE FIST BUMP from an M-Braves representative.

The Mississippi Braves are the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Since the inaugural 2005 season, 139 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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