SL Mississippi Braves

Offensive Fireworks Power M-Braves to Doubleheader Sweep of Rocket City

Published on August 11, 2023 under Southern League (SL)
Mississippi Braves News Release


MADISON, AL - The Mississippi Braves (49-56, 16-21) put up 18 runs, 20 hits and nine extra-base hits in a doubleheader sweep of the Rocket City Trash Pandas (48-58, 17-20) on Saturday night at Toyota Field.

Game One

The M-Braves offense came through early and often in an 8-5 win. Bryson Horne shined with two doubles and two RBI in his Double-A debut. Seventh-inning homers from Luke Waddell and Drew Lugbauer sealed the game.

In the second inning, Jesse Franklin V led off with a single to right field. The hit extended Franklin's on-base streak to 21 games. Cade Bunnell followed with a walk. In his first Double-A at-bat, Horne doubled to the gap in left center to score two runs. Cody Milligan capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Horne finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI and a run as a designated hitter in his Double-A debut. Horne was promoted from High-A Rome on Tuesday.

The Trash Pandas responded quickly, posting four runs in the third inning to take a 4-3 lead.

In the fifth, the M-Braves would retake the lead. Horne smacked a double to right field to start the inning. Waddell brought in Horne with a sacrifice fly to tie the game. With two outs, Lugbauer knocked a ball through the right side of the infield to score Milligan and make it 5-4.

Waddell hit a solo shot to left to add some cushion in the seventh, and Lugbauer smashed a two-run homer to center to break the game open. The two homers accounted for three runs to make it 8-4 heading into the final frame.

Waddell went 1-for-2 with his eighth home run, a walk and two RBI. Lugbauer hit his 21st home run, moving him back into a tie for the league lead.

Ty Tice picked up his second save, striking out three batters in two innings.

Game Two

The M-Braves rode back-to-back four-run innings in the second and the third to a 10-7 win in game two. The two clubs combined for 22 hits in a two hour and 54 minute seven-inning game.

Rocket City scored three runs in the first and another two runs in the second. The M-Braves countered with four runs in the second.

Hudson Potts doubled off the wall in left to score a run. Milligan brought in a run with an RBI groundout. Franklin hit a two-run homer to left field, his second home run in three games. The home run extended Franklin's on-base streak to 22 games.

Rocket City led 5-4 after two innings.

The M-Braves bounced back again with four runs in the third. After Javier Valdes reached on an error and Landon Stephens doubled, Cal Conley flared a single to center to tie the game. Potts punched a low liner past the shortstop to retake the lead at 6-5. Waddell hit a lined shot to right for a two-run double to make it 8-5.

Potts went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Stephens doubled twice and finished 2-for-4. Waddell reached base four times, going 1-for-2 with a double, three walks and two RBI.

The M-Braves walked four straight times to score a run in the fifth. After the fourth walk, Milligan took advantage of no one calling for time and sprinted from third base to home plate to score a second run after the fourth walk and make it 10-6.

Rocket City loaded the bases in the sixth and scored a run on a flare single to make it 10-7. The M-Braves brought Trey Riley in to pitch. With the bases still loaded, Gabe Mathews laced a line drive to the right side. Conley leaped into the air for a tremendous grab and doubled off the baserunner at second base to get the M-Braves out of the inning.

Riley pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his second save.

The fifth game of the series is on Saturday night at Toyota Field. LHP Luis De Avila (6-6, 2.95) will make the start Mississippi while a pitcher to be named will start for Rocket City. The first pitch is at 6:05 pm CT, with coverage starting 15 minutes before on 102.1 The Box, MiLB First Pitch App, and Bally Live.

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Southern League Stories from August 11, 2023


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