SL1 Mississippi Braves

Smokies Win With Long Ball & Small Ball

Published on July 21, 2006 under Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


The Braves lost to Tennessee 6-4, in front of a crowd of 4,748 at Trustmark Park Friday night. The Smokies jumped out to an early lead, but Mississippi came back to take a 3-1 lead. Tennessee made it 3-2 in the sixth and took the lead 6-3 in the seventh. The Braves got a run in the seventh, but the comeback fell three runs short as Tennessee got another homer in the ninth.

Tennessee jumped on the board in the top of the first inning. Danny Richar led off the game with his sixth homer of the year to give the Smokies a 1-0 lead.

The Braves tied the game in the bottom of the inning after Luis Hernandez singled to center. He stole second to get into scoring position and came in to score on a double by Barbaro Canizares to tie the game at one.

Mississippi extended its lead to 3-1 in the third. Onil Joseph reached on an infield single and Hernandez followed him with a bunt single. They both moved up a bag when Canizares chopped out to third. After Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked to load the bases, Josh Burrus singled to right bringing Joseph and Hernandez to the plate with two more runs for the Braves.

The Smokies cut the Braves' lead to 3-2 in the sixth. Mark Reynolds singled to left and Jamie D'Antona singled to right moving Reynolds over to third. Jesus Cota then hit a sacrifice fly to left that brought Reynolds home with the Smokies second run of the game.

Tennessee put four runs on the board in the seventh inning thanks to singles by the first four batters that came to the plate and some shaky defense by the Braves. Alex Frazier, Roberto Gonzalez, Augustin Murillo, and Richar each singled to lead off the inning and tie the score at three. When Jerry Gil grounded out 4-3, Tennesse took a 4-3 lead and when Jamie D'Antona reached on an error by Josh Arteaga, the Smokies went up 6-3.

The Braves struck back in the bottom of the inning. Pinch hitter Bobby Darula led off the inning with a double to center and moved to third when Gil mishandled the ball. Darula then scored on a sac fly by Onil Joseph to cut the Smokies lead to 6-4.

Tennessee added another run in the ninth when Cota ripped his ninth homer of the year to make the score 7-4.

Smokies' starter Greg Smith (5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) gave up three runs through five innings and left the game trailing 3-2. He was in position to fall to 3-4 on the year. Clint Goocher (1.0 IP, 1 K) threw one scoreless inning of relief and left the game with a 6-3 lead. He improved to 4-6 on the year. Matt Wilkinson (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K) gave up one run in one inning of work. Chris Kinsey (1.0 IP, 1 K) threw one scoreless inning. Bill White (1.0 IP, 2 K) threw a scoreless ninth inning to notch his second save of the year.

Braves' starter Matt Harrison (6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 K, 1 HR) left the game with the score tied at three. Glenn Tucker (1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER) gave up three runs, one earned, in one inning of work and fell to 1-3 on the year. Ryan Basner (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR) gave up a solo homer in the ninth.

The Braves conclude a five game set at Trustmark Park as they take on the Tennessee Smokies, the AA Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the fifth and final game of this series at 7:05 pm Saturday night. Mississippi is scheduled to send LHP Dan Smith to the hill while the Smokies are scheduled to counter with RHP Steven Jackson. The Braves On Deck Circle powered by Nextel starts off the broadcast at 6:05 PM (CT) on SuperSport 930.

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Southern League Stories from July 21, 2006


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