SL1 Mississippi Braves

Sanchez Powers Mudcats to Game One Win

Published on July 16, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


Gaby Sanchez blasted two home runs and drove in five runs as the Carolina Mudcats erased a 4-1 deficit to defeat the M-Braves 9-5 Wednesday night. Mississippi held a 4-1 lead, but Carolina rallied for six runs in the fourth inning to take the first game of the series.

Mike Hampton mowed down the Mudcats in the top of the first and the M-Braves quickly put two runs on the board in the home-half of the inning. JC Holt walked and stole second before Jordan Schafer reached on a base on balls. A double steal put Holt and Schafer at third and second, respectively, and a 5-3 groundout by Reid Gorecki plated Holt with the Braves first run. Schafer came around to score on a double by Greg Creek and the M-Braves led 2-0.

Gaby Sanchez led off the top of the second with his eighth home run of the year to get Carolina on the board, but the Braves came back with two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Javier Guzman singled and stole second before scoring on Kris Medlen's pinch-hit double. Medlen moved to third on a single by JC Holt before stealing home to give the M-Braves a 4-1 lead.

Carolina responded with two runs in the top of the third. Dante Brinkley and Manuel Mayorson hit back-to-back one-out singles and Chris Coghlan drew a walk to load the bases. Sanchez's walk drove in Brinkley to cut the lead to 4-2 and Lee Mitchell's sac-fly made the score 4-3. The Mudcats nearly tied it in the third, but Gorecki threw out Coghlan at the plate when he tried to score from second on Andrew Jenkins single.

After ending the top of the inning with an outfield assist, Gorecki led off the bottom of the third with a solo home run to push the Braves lead to 5-3.

The Mudcats responded this time by sending nine men to the plate and scoring six of them in the top of the fourth. Brad Davis struck out to start the inning, but reached on a wild pitch. Daron Roberts singled and Carolina was in business. Gaby Hernandez bunted both runners up a base and they both scored on a double by Brinkley. Brinkley scored on a double by Mayorson and Coghlan followed with a walk. Sanchez then ripped his second homer of the night to put the Mudcats up 9-5.

Hampton gave up a run in two innings of work and turned over the game to Carlos Sencion in the third. Sencion gave up eight runs on seven hits in 1.1 innings and fell to 3-2 on the year. Brad Nelson threw 3.2 scoreless frames and Sung Ki Jung threw one shutout inning. Michael Nix threw one scores frame.

Gaby Hernandez gave up five runs on seven hits through six innings and improved to 1-0 on the year. Matt Yourkin threw a shutout inning and Todd Doolittle threw two scoreless innings of relief.

Mississippi and Carolina will play the second game of this five-game set Thursday night at Trustmark Park at 7:05. The Braves will send righty Tommy Hanson to the hill while the Mudcats will counter with righty Rick Vandenhurk.

Thursday night at Trustmark Park will be Thirsty Thursday when all 16 oz. soft drinks and draft beer will be only $1. Also, representatives from Chick-Fil-A will be on hand passing out FREE Chick-Fil-A food coupons.

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Southern League Stories from July 16, 2008


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