SL1 Mississippi Braves

Three-Run Ninth Propels M-Braves to 7-5 Win over Biscuits, Clinching Series

July 21, 2018 - Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


MONTGOMERY, AL -- The Mississippi Braves scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat the Montgomery Biscuits 7-5 and clinch the series in Montgomery. The Braves won their third-straight game on Saturday night to improve to 15-13 in the second half and 12-7 during July. The win helps the Braves keep pace in the South Division standings, trailing Pensacola by 5.0 games, in third place.

The back-and-forth game began with Montgomery (15-14, 52-47) scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run home run by Nick Solak. The leads for the Biscuits on Saturday night didn't last long. Travis Demeritte began the top of the second with a single and proceeded to second on a fielding error. After a fielders choice and walk, Ray-Patrick Didder split the gap in right-center with a triple, scoring Brandon Downes and Connor Lien to tie the game at 2-2.

The Biscuits went back on top 3-2 in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Jake Cronenworth. In the top of the fifth inning, the M-Braves (15-13, 44-54) took their first lead. Didder started the rally with a one-out single and Daniel Lockhart followed with a double, placing runners at second and third. The red-hot Alejandro Salazar brought in both runners with a single to center and it was 4-3 Braves.

Former Mississippi State star Nate Lowe smacked his second home run of the series in the bottom of the sixth inning to knot the score at 4-4.

M-Braves starter Ricardo Sanchez gave up four runs over 6.0 innings in his sixth start and settled for a no-decision. He walked none and struck out one.

The Biscuits went ahead 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning against newest M-Braves reliever Rex Brothers (W, 1-0), but the M-Braves wasted no time against Montgomery reliever Curtis Taylor (L, 2-2) in tying the game. Didder blooped a single to center and then scored to tie the game at five on a double by Lockhart. Salazar sacrificed Lockhart to third for the first out of the inning. The Biscuits intentionally walked Tyler Neslony to get to Tyler Marlette, who singled through the left side, scoring Lockhart giving the Braves a 6-5 lead. The Braves tacked on an insurance run to make it 7-5, with two outs, as Sal Giardina brought home Neslony on a single to right.

Corbin Clouse (S, 3) pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth inning to preserve the 7-5 win to clinch the series.

Salazar was 2-for-4 on Saturday, recording his fifth-straight multi-hit game. Lockhart, Neslony, Giardina, and Didder had multi-hit games in the 13-hit outburst, with Didder leading the way by finishing 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. The M-Braves have won three of their last four series in July.

The M-Braves and Biscuits wrap up the five-game series on Sunday night at Riverwalk Stadium, LHP Bruce Zimmermann (2-0, 1.69) will start for the Braves against LHP Brock Burke (0-0, 3.60) for the Biscuits. First pitch is at 5:05 pm with coverage starting at 5:50 pm on 103.9 WYAB and the free TuneIn Radio app.

The M-Braves return home Monday, July 23 for a ten-game homestand with Mobile and Birmingham. For tickets, visit mississippibraves.com/tickets. For more information, call the M-Braves Front Office at 601.932.8788 or 888-BRAVES4.

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Southern League Stories from July 21, 2018


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