Daniel Curtis & Braves Shut Out Barons

Daniel Curtis started the 10 game road trip for the Braves off with a bang as he shut down the Birmingham Barons 2-0 in front of 8,313 at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Manny Acosta made it interesting in the ninth allowing a one-out double and a pair of walks to load the bases before getting a strike out and ground out as he picked up his team-leading 4th save of the season.

The Braves took an early 1-0 advantage in the second as Joshua Arteaga scored on wild pitch and an errant throw by catcher Gustavo Molina. The Braves collected their other run in the sixth as Matt Esquivel doubled and drove in Barbaro Canizares with two outs.

Daniel Curtis (2-3, 4.43 ERA) becomes just the second pitcher to record 8 innings on the hill as he scattered 4 hits and faced just three batters over the minimum, while walking none.

Ray Liotta (1-4, 3.59 ERA) was the hard-luck loser as he scattered 8 hits allowing just one earned run to score in seven innings of work.

The Braves and Barons continue their five-game set Saturday night at the Hoover Met as the Braves send RHP Sean White (2-2, 3.65 ERA) to the hill, while Birmingham counters with League ERA Leader RHP Lance Broadway (4-1, 1.61 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 To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.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:
* Gregor Blanco extended his team-high hitting streak to 12 games … (19-52, .365)
* Barbaro Canizares extended his current streak to 8 games… (12-32, .375)
* Matt Esquivel drove in his team-leading 18th RBI
* Prado is mired in a current 0-12 slump, Saltalamacchia is stuck in a 0-9 skid.
* The Braves improve to 6-6 when scoring first, 2-1 in shutouts, and 9-0 when leading after 8 innings.

by
Bryan Eubank