SL1 Mississippi Braves

Redmond Deals M-Braves a 1-0 Series Lead

Published on September 4, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Two of the best hurlers in the Southern League faced off Thursday night at Regions Park in Birmingham, AL. Mississippi's Todd Redmond, the Southern League's Most Outstanding Pitcher, took on Birmingham's Justin Cassel, the Southern League's ERA champion in game one of this best-of-five divisional series. Both pitchers were phenomenal, but in the end it was Redmond who got the upper hand.

Back on July 18th, Todd Redmond surrendered only one hit over eight scoreless innings, but was robbed of a win when the Carolina Mudcats scored three runs in the top of the ninth. That was not the case Thursday night as Redmond was dealing again. He scattered five hits over eight scoreless innings while fanning nine and surrendering zero walks. Redmond earned his 14th win of the season and his first of the playoffs. Luis Valdez came on and quickly retired the first two batters he faced before giving up a single and two walks to load the bases. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Valdez got Stephan Gartrell to fly out to centerfield to end the ballgame and notch his first save of the playoffs.

Redmond got the win and Valdez got the save because the M-Braves were able to plate a run in the top of the ninth. With the two teams locked in a scoreless tie, Kala Ka'aihue led off the top of the ninth with a single to left-center. It was only the Braves second hit of the game. Quentin Davis came in to pinch-run and he moved to second on a sac-bunt by Jordan Schafer. Willie Cabrera then ripped a double through the third baseman that scored Davis from second with the game's only run.

Justin Cassel was just as good as Redmond, but he didn't factor into the decision. Cassel also threw eight scoreless innings, but he surrendered only one hit while fanning seven. He did walk five in the outing. Kanekoa Texeira gave up a run on two hits and a walk through two-thirds of an inning to fall to 0-1 in the playoffs. John Lujan recorded the final out for the Barons.

Mississippi and Birmingham will face off again Friday night in game two of this best-of-five series. The Braves will send righty Tommy Hanson to the hill against Birmingham's lefty Aaron Poreda.

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Southern League Stories from September 4, 2008


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