Barons Prevent Series Clincher Again

For the second straight game the Braves had a chance to win just their second series of the year and lost to the Barons 5-2 in front of 2,122 at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Corwin Malone (4-2, 3.19 ERA) threw 6 and 2/3 innings and allowed two runs, only one earned. The Barons starters have thrown over 26 innings and have allowed only two earned runs in the series.

Ricardo Ninita put the Barons on the board with a three-run homer to lead off the first. Thomas Collaro followed with a two-run double to make it 5-0 which proved to be enough. The Braves managed single runs in the fifth and seventh: Ray Serrano doubled and scored on a two-out single by Martin Prado. The other run for the Braves came on a ground ball that was thrown wide of the bag by Micah Schnurstein allowing Matt Esquivel to score.

Paul Bush (2-3, 3.90 ERA) took the loss giving up the five-spot in the first. Ryan Basner threw four scoreless innings of two-hit relief while striking out six. Basner was shifted to the bullpen as Bush was moved into the rotation before the game.

The Braves and Barons wrap up their five-game set Tuesday night in the rubber match at the Hoover Met. The Braves send RHP Matt Wright (1-2, 3.93 ERA) to the hill, while Birmingham counters with LHP Ryan Rodriguez (1-3, 5.49 ERA) at the Hoover Met at 7:05. The Braves On Deck Circle powered by Nextel starts off the broadcast at 6:05pm on SuperSport 930.

Check out the Braves Minute here. To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.

BRAVES BITES:
* Ray Serrano improved his hitting streak to 5 games… (7-14, .500).
* Martin Prado improved his hitting streak to 3 games… (6-14 .429)
* The Braves fall to 8-18 when their opponent scores first.
* The Braves are now 4-18 when allowing a homerun.
* The Braves have been outscored 32-13 in the first inning.
* The Braves left 10 men on base.
* The Braves went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

by
Bryan Eubank