SL1 Mississippi Braves

Pedroza, M-Braves Come from Behind in Birmingham 5-4

July 7, 2013 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Birmingham, AL - Trailing 3-2 in the ninth, the Mississippi Braves plated three runs and held on in the bottom of the frame to win 5-4 over the Birmingham Barons on Sunday afternoon at Regions Field.

The Braves (46-43; 8-11) started the ninth with back-to-back singles by Dan Brewer and Omar Luna, who was replaced by Mycal Jones as a pinch-runner. The Barons (53-36; 9-10) then walked Jose Martinez to load the bases. With Robby Hefflinger at the plate, reliever Salvador Sanchez threw a wild pitch to plate Brewer, tying the game 3-3.

Sanchez retired the next two Braves on strikes, but Jaime Pedroza came through with a two-run single to center to make it 5-3 Braves.

Birmingham scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth, but reliever Pat Egan (4-1) held on to pick up the win.

The ninth inning was just the ending to an otherwise wild, back-and-forth game. The game saw three ties and three lead changes throughout the afternoon before the Braves finished on top.

Birmingham struck first when Dan Black drove an RBI double to right-center in the first inning, plating Trayce Thompson for a 1-0 lead.

Mississippi answered in the top of the second when Robby Hefflinger hit a solo home run to lead off the inning. It was his second home run in three days in Birmingham and his second at double-A after hitting 21 for high-A Lynchburg.

The Braves broke the 1-1 tie in the fifth. Edward Salcedo doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a Pedroza RBI single.

Birmingham returned the serve and tied it up in the sixth on another Black RBI, this time on a single to score Marcus Semien. Then in the seventh, second baseman David Herbek in his double-A debut doubled in Jared Mitchell to lead 3-2, setting up the thrilling ninth.

Gary Moran pitched well in his first start since April 14, throwing four innings and allowing just the one run on two hits. For the Barons, Spencer Arroyo threw seven innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Sanchez (1-4) blew his first save of the year and took the loss for the Barons.

With the win, the Braves have won three of four in the series and will look to make it four of five on Monday night in the series finale beginning at 7:05 PM CT. Mississippi sends right-hander Aaron Northcraft (3-7, 4.15) against right-hander Michael Nix (1-1, 3.86). Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 6:30 PM with the "Countdown to First Pitch" on 103.9 WYAB and online at MississippiBraves.com.

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