SL1 Mississippi Braves

Mississippi Defeats Mobile 10-3 to Even Series

Published on May 9, 2018 under Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


PEARL, MS - The Mississippi Braves defeated the Mobile BayBears 10-3 on Tuesday night, evening the series 1-1. M-Braves center fielder, Connor Lien was the star of the show. Lien finished his night by going 4-for-4 at the plate with a HR, 2B, 2 R, and 2 RBI. The Orlando, FL native becomes the first Mississippi Braves player to record a four-hit game since Jared James did so on August 25, 2017 against the Chattanooga Lookouts in Chattanooga, TN.

The Mississippi Braves started their scoring early in Tuesday night's contest. Mississippi plated the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning when Jonathan Morales grounded out to Mobile third baseman, Taylor Ward, allowing Michael Reed to score.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second inning, Mobile's offense responded by scoring two runs of their own after Riley Unroe sent a ground ball single into right field which allowed both Brendon Sanger and Zach Gibbons to score.

Not to be outdone, Mississippi countered in the bottom of the second inning by taking a 5-2 lead. Lien got the scoring started by ripping a line drive double down the left field line. Tyler Marlette scored on the double from Lien. Alay Lago would then follow Lien with a bases-clearing three-run double. Daniel Lockhart, Lien and Reed all crossed the plate courtesy of Lago's double.

Leading 5-2 entering the bottom of the third inning, the M-Braves bats did not cool off. The M-Braves offense exploded for three more runs in the bottom of the third, extending their lead 8-2. The M-Braves earned their first run of the inning after Marlette delivered a broken bat single to right field, allowing Travis Demeritte to cross the plate. Lockhart would then ground into a force out, which allowed Luis Valenzuela to score from third base. The M-Braves third and final run of the inning came courtesy of a wild pitch from Mobile relief pitcher, Vicente Campos. Lockhart advanced from third and scored on the wild pitch.

In the top of the fifth inning, BayBears first baseman, Jose Rojas hammered a solo homerun over the right field wall, making the score 8-3.

Lien, the hottest hitter in the M-Braves lineup on Tuesday night, smacked a solo homerun of his own over the center field wall to give the M-Braves a 9-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. The M-Braves broke the double digit run barrier just two batters later when Lago tripled on a sharp line drive to right field, scoring Reed from second base, making the score 10-3 in favor of the M-Braves. Lago is the first M-Braves player to record a four-RBI game since Austin Riley did so on August 4, 2017 against the Biloxi Shuckers.

The 16 hits and 10 runs scored by the Mississippi Braves in Tuesday night's contest are a season high for the club in 2018.

Not to be lost in the shuffle, was the debut of Atlanta Braves No. 13 overall prospect, Bryse Wilson. The 20-year old RHP made his debut with the M-Braves on Tuesday night after being promoted from High-A Florida earlier in the day. In his first appearance with Double-A Mississippi, Wilson earned the Tuesday night start. In 5.0 innings pitched, Wilson allowed five hits, three runs, all earned, one homerun, walked one and struck out four.

Wilson (1-0, 5.40) earned the win for Mississippi while Jose Rodriguez (1-4, 5.13) suffered the loss for Mobile. Mississippi relief pitcher, Michael Mader was credited with his second save of the season after pitching 4.0 innings of scoreless relief.

Mississippi and Mobile will meet at 10:35 a.m. at Trustmark Park on Wednesday, May 9 for game three of the five game series. RHP Touki Toussaint (2-1, 3.56) will get the start for Mississippi in Wednesday's contest. Toussaint's counterpart on the mound will be Mobile RHP Griffin Canning (1-0, 2.41). Wednesday's game will feature the final School Day Matinee of the 2018 season as well as First Responders Wednesday presented by AMR.

The Mississippi Braves are the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Since the inaugural 2005 season, over 125 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.




Southern League Stories from May 9, 2018


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