Braves Survive Homerun Derby Marathon

The Braves outlasted the Biscuits in 13 Innings Friday night pulling out a 8-7 win in front of 5,592 at Riverwalk Stadium. The Braves got a RBI double by Joshua Arteaga in the top of the 13th to plate Escobar and the go-ahead run. Eric Schmitt retired the last batter looking with runners at the corners to notch his first save. Will Startup improved to 3-0 with 3 perfect innings of relief.

The Braves and Biscuits combined to hit 5 Homeruns in the game, four in the fourth inning alone. The Braves bullpen threw 9.2 innings of scoreless baseball. Matt Esquivel hit a towering homerun to left to give the Braves a 4-3 lead in the fourth. Joshua Arteaga added his 2nd homerun and the Braves led 6-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth. The Biscuits added 2 two-run homers in the bottom of the frame to retake the lead 7-6 which would also mark the last time the Biscuits would score. The two teams combined for 9 runs and 10 hits (4 homers) in the fourth.

The Braves wrap up their five-game series with Montgomery Saturday night at 7:05pm, it also marks the end of their 10 games in 11 days road trip. RHP Matt Wright (1-1, 2.45 ERA) takes the mound for Mississippi while Montgomery counters with RHP Chris Flinn (1-2, 6.08 ERA). The Braves On Deck Circle powered by Nextel starts off the broadcast at 6:05pm on SuperSport 930 (WSFZ-AM-930).

Check out the Braves Minute here. Don't forget if you're headed to Riverwalk Stadium bring your radio and tune into 103.9 FM to listen to the broadcast

BRAVES BITES:

* There are five Braves with current hitting streaks of three games or more.
* Streaks: Gregor Blanco, (5 games, 8-24, .333); Josh Burrus (4 games, 4-17, .235); Yunel Escobar (5 games, 8-21, .381); Martin Prado (5 games, 8-23, .348); Joshua Arteaga (3 games, 5-11, .455)
* The Braves are now 2-7 against Montgomery this year and 10-22 since they started play last season.
* The Braves have recorded 104 Ks against their opponents in their last 11 Games.
* The Biscuits left 16 men stranded on base.
* The five run 4th inning matches the season-high for runs in an inning.
* This marks the longest game of the season in innings (13) and time (4:17)
* The Braves have scored 4 or more runs in 16 games this year (9-7 record).
* First Friday road win. Braves are now 2-1 in extra-inning games, 3-3 in one-run games.
* Fifteen strikeouts in a game sets a new record this season for the pitching staff.

by
Bryan Eubank