SL1 Mississippi Braves

Toussaint Matches Career-High with 11 Strikeouts in 2-1 Loss to Blue Wahoos

Published on June 30, 2018 under Southern League (SL1)
Mississippi Braves News Release


PENSACOLA, FL - For the third time in four games, an M-Braves starting pitcher recorded 10+ strikeouts, but the Braves dropped their fifth straight game in a 2-1 loss to Pensacola on Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium. The win in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 was the seventh-straight for Pensacola after starting the second-half 0-2.

Touki Toussaint turned in his best performance of the year on Saturday night, matching a career-high with 11 strikeouts over 7.0 shutout innings. The 22-year-old gave up just two hits and walked three. In five June starts, Toussaint was 2-1 with a 1.17 ERA, 35 strikeouts, and just 11 walks. Toussaint leads the Southern League and Double-A baseball with 107 strikeouts over 16 starts and 86 innings - just four shy of the overall minor league leader. Saturday's 10+ strikeout performance was Toussaint's fourth of the year and seventh of his career. The quality start was Toussaint's seventh. M-Braves starters have accumulated 35 strikeouts over the past four games.

The M-Braves (3-6, 32-46) jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the second inning. Alex Jackson opened the frame with a double and then scored on an RBI single by Alay Lago. Jackson has five doubles over his last 11 games.

Toussaint retired the first 12 batters and did not allow a baserunner until the fifth. The Coral Springs, FL native had eight strikeouts over 4.0 perfect innings. He plunked Mitch Nay to start the bottom of the fifth and with one out, gave up a softly hit single to right, from Narciso Crook to break up the no-hitter. Toussaint walked the bases loaded in the sixth inning but escaped the jam with his 11th strikeout, which was Nay.

Pensacola pinch-hitter Brian O'Grady welcomed M-Braves reliever Kelvin Vasquez (L, 3-1) to the game in the bottom of the eighth inning with an opposite-field solo homer to left-center. T.J. Friedl followed with a single. Vasquez struck out the next two hitters but surrendered the go-ahead run, on an RBI double by Nay.

Pensacola (7-2, 37-40) reliever Carlos Navas (W, 3-0) struck out six over 2.0 innings for the win and Alex Powers (S, 8) worked a scoreless ninth for the save.

The loss for the Braves was just the fourth when leading after seven innings in 32 games.

The M-Braves and Blue Wahoos will play game four of the six-game series on Sunday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium. RHP Enderson Franco (2-5, 3.68) makes the start for the M-Braves against Pensacola RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (4-8, 5.33). First pitch is set for 6:35 pm with coverage beginning at 6:20 pm on 103.9 WYAB. Fans can also listen for free on the TuneIn Radio App.

The M-Braves return to Trustmark Park on Wednesday, July 4 for a Supersized Independence Day Fireworks Show. For tickets or more information fans can visit mississippibraves.com or call 888-BRAVES4.

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Southern League Stories from June 30, 2018


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