SL1 Mississippi Braves

M-Braves Stumble, Drop Series to Smokies

July 24, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Kodak, TN - The Tennessee Smokies pulled away with a three-run sixth and held off a Mississippi Braves late rally for a 4-2 win on Thursday night at Smokies Park. The win was Tennessee's third straight, clinching the series.

Ryan Weber and Pierce Johnson battled through five pitchers duel innings to start the game, with the Smokies (18-16; 51-52) pushing across the only early run in the first inning. Addison Russell singled on the infield and Lars Anderson in his Smokies debut doubled to right-center to make it 1-0.

Johnson (3-4) stymied the Braves' (17-17; 56-47) offense over six innings, allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out eight in the win.

Tennessee plated three in a troublesome sixth inning to extend the lead. With one out, Russell got the second of his infield hits in a 2-for-4 day and Anderson followed up with a single. Christian Villanueva singled home a run for a 2-0 lead and Stephen Bruno stroked a two-run double to make it 4-0 Tennessee.

That ended the day for Weber (3-4) who allowed four runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings, striking out three in the loss. Ryne Harper, Ian Thomas, and John Cornely combined to shutout the Smokies over the final 2 2/3 innings.

Mississippi broke through against the bullpen when reliever Tony Zych came on in the seventh. Daniel Castro walked to lead off the frame, moving to third on two straight groundouts. Braeden Schlehuber smacked a double down the third base line to get the Braves on the board, trailing 4-1.

Another run came across in the eighth. Jose Peraza singled, stole second- his seventh steal in four games- and came into score on a throwing error by Jonathan Mota for a 4-2 Braves deficit.

Cedric Hunter and Castro singled with two outs in the eighth, but Villanueva robbed Mycal Jones of an extra base hit with a leaping grab at third to retire the M-Braves side and put the muzzle on a comeback attempt.

Frank Batista (6) earned the save, throwing a scoreless final four outs with two strikeouts and a hit.

The M-Braves try to salvage the finale of the ten-game road trip in Friday night's fifth game with the Smokies. Right-hander Mitch Atkins (5-0, 4.11) takes the hill for the Braves against his former team and left-hander Jeff Antigua (0-1, 2.78), with first pitch slated for 6:15 PM CT.

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Southern League Stories from July 24, 2014


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