Braves Earn Split with BayBears: W, 1-0

The Braves earned a split of the Southern League doubleheader Thursday night with a 1-0 victory in game two in front of a crowd of 3,775 at Trustmark Park. That pushed the Braves season attendance over the 150,000 mark in just 42 openings.

Braves starter Chris Waters (5-7, 4.25 ERA) not only tossed 5 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball, he also drove in the only run for his first RBI as a MS Brave. Waters also managed to get by without allowing a homerun for just the sixth time in his 17 starts this season. Ironically Waters' last win was also a 1-0 decision on June 26th against Birmingham. The Braves also dropped their team ERA below 4.00 for the first time since May 3 (3.97).

The Braves ended a five-game losing skid of one-run games with their 1-0 victory Thursday night and also tossed their eighth shutout in the process. The win in game two also marked the first win for the Braves at home on a Thursday. That leaves Wednesday as the only winless day of the week for the Braves at home. The two games lasted a combinend total of 3 1/2 hours, shorter than some 9 inning games the Braves have played this season.

Mike Ekstrom (0-3, 3.86 ERA) was the hard-luck loser tossing a 6-inning complete game while allowing just one run on three hits. The Braves bullpen held the game in check as Ascanio allowed a double to the first batter he faced but then retired the final two. Zach Schreiber pitched the ninth allowing a single but recording a line-out double play to Canizares to end the game, notching his team-leading 10th save of the season.

The Braves continue their five game home stand at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi Wednesday night as they take on the Mobile BayBears, the AA Affiliate of the San Diego Padres, in game four of the series. First Pitch is set for 7:05 PM (CT). The Braves are set to send RHP Anthony Lerew (0-2, 3.86 ERA) to the hill in search of his first win while the BayBears are scheduled to counter with RHP Jose Oyervidez (2-8, 4.31ERA). The Braves On Deck Circle powered by Nextel starts off the broadcast at 6:05 PM (CT) on SuperSport 930. Don't forget if you're headed to the game then take your radio and tune to 104.3-FM exclusively at Trustmark Park.

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 To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.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:
* The Braves improve to 8-3 in shutouts.
* The Braves improve to 12-16 in one-run games.
* The Braves improve to 24-17 when scoring first.
* The Braves improve to 23-12 in errorless games.
* The Braves improve to 4-21 when scoring in one inning.
* The Braves have split all 3 Doubleheaders they've played.
* The Braves improve to 25-19 when not allowing a homerun.
* The Braves improve to 23-9 when not leading after six inings.
* The Braves improve to 7-28 when when scoring two runs or less.

HIT STREAKS:
* Ray Serrano extended his current hitless skid to 0-14.
* Yunel Escobar ended an 0-7 slump with his 6th inning triple.
* Joshua Arteaga had his hit streak end at 2 games… (2-6, .333)
* Barbaro Canizares had his hit streak end at 5 games… (6-16, .375)


TRANSACTIONS:
* None Today.

by
Bryan Eubank