SL1 Mississippi Braves

M-Braves Split Twin Bill with Montgomery

August 20, 2013 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Montgomery, AL - The Mississippi Braves gained a game in the Southern League South playoff race, winning game two of a doubleheader with the Montgomery Biscuits 4-0 after falling in game one 5-4.

With Jacksonville losing both games of their doubleheader to Chattanooga, the Braves had an opportunity to pull to just a 1/2-game back, but the Biscuits pulled off a walkoff win in the first game to limit the Braves' efforts.

Mississippi (32-24; 70-56) trailed early 3-0 in game one, but came surging back thanks to a Christian Bethancourt two-run double in the fifth inning.

Then in the 7th, the Braves put runners on the corners with nobody out. Omar Luna grounded into a double play, but Christian Marrero scored from third to tie the game 3-3 and force extra innings.

The game stayed tied until the top of the ninth, when Marrero led off with a double. Jaime Pedroza laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him to third, and Luna came through again with a scorched single to center, giving Mississippi a 4-3 lead.

But the Biscuits (25-32; 62-65) wouldn't go down quietly. Leftfielder Kyeong Kang singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth and moved to second on a Mayo Acosta sacrifice. Robby Price walked to put two on before Ryan Brett grounded into a force at second base.

With runners on the corners, shortstop Shawn O'Malley singled to tie the game, and Mikie Mahtook singled to plate Brett for the walkoff win.

After giving up the go-ahead run in the top half of the ninth, Braulio Lara (3-2) picked up the win in relief. Pat Egan (6-2) suffered the loss after pitching 2.2 innings of relief.

The Braves took revenge in game two, and they took it early. Greg Golson drew a walk to lead off the game against Biscuits starter Joe Van Meter, moving up to third on a pair of groundouts. Edward Salcedo clubbed a single to center to score the run, staking the Braves to a 1-0 lead.

Dan Brewer led off the second inning with a monster solo home run, his third of the season to make it 2-0. Then Christian Bethancourt followed suit to lead off the third, his 12th home run of the season putting the Braves on top 3-0.

Meanwhile, Gary Moran (3-2) pitched a gem in the spot start, picking up the win after five one-hit shutout innings. James Hoyt and Ryne Harper closed out the Braves win. Van Meter (0-2) suffered the loss, throwing three innings and allowing three runs on five hits.

Mississippi added insurance in the sixth inning after Dan Brewer reached on an error to start the inning. A few batters later, Golson singled to plate him, making it 4-0 in favor of the Braves.

With just 13 games remaining, the Braves trail the Jacksonville Suns in the South playoff race by just 1.5 games, and they continue their quest for a half title in game three with the Biscuits on Tuesday night at 7:05 PM CT. Mississippi will send right-hander Aaron Northcraft (7-8, 3.64) against Biscuits right-hander Jake Thompson (11-10, 4.45). Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 6:30 PM CT with the Mississippi Braves "Countdown to First Pitch" on 103.9 WYAB or online at MississippiBraves.com.

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Southern League Stories from August 20, 2013


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