Braves Take Series Finale in Extras: W, 8-4

The Braves squandered a four-run lead as Huntsville rallied for four runs off of Ryan Basner in the eighth inning to tie the game at 4-4. The Braves, however, rallied for four in the 10th to take the series and win their third straight against the Stars in front of an announced crowd of 1,311 at Joe Davis Stadium.

Dan Smith (0-2, 5.40 ERA) was brilliant before exiting as he tossed five hitless innings against Huntsville. Smith was replacing Matt Wright, who was promoted to Richmond two days ago. (He was shelled in his first start allowing 10 runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings).

Glenn Tucker and Jose Ascanio pitched perfect innings of relief in the ninth and tenth after Basner's trouble in the eighth. It all started with a pair of walks and then with two outs the Stars got an RBI single by Callix Crabbe and a 3-run homer by Drew Anderson to tie it at 4-4.

The Braves other runs came from a first inning two-run homerun by Brandon Jones...an RBI single by Josh Burrus...and a solo Homerun by Jarrod Saltalamacchia (his first since May 2nd).

The Braves enjoy an off day on Monday before starting up a five game set in Pearl, Mississippi at Trustmark Park as they take on the Tennessee Smokies, the AA Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the series opener. First Pitch is set for 7:05 PM (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send LHP Francisely Bueno (1-3, 4.08 ERA) to the hill while the Smokies are scheduled to counter with RHP Corey Thurman (2-8, 2.62 ERA). 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 103.9-FM exclusively at Joe Davis Stadium.

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 To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.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 imrpove to 10-15 in games decided by 4 or more runs.
* The Braves improve to 28-17 when scoring first.
* The Braves improve to 3-4 on the final game of a road trip.
* The Braves improve to 19-13 when hitting a homerun.
* The Braves improve to 7-9 when scoring at least three runs.
* The Braves improve to 6-3 when tied after eight innings.
* The Braves improve to 6-4 in extra inning games.

HIT STREAKS:
* Yunel Escoabr had his hit streak end at 5 games… (8-19, .421)
* Mike Rozema extended his hit streak to 4 games… (8-17, .471)
* Josh Burrus ended an 0-14 slump with his sixth inning RBI single.
* Jarrod Saltalamacchia extended his hit streak to 2 games… (3-6, .500)
* Hernandez is still mired in an 0-18 slump, while Arteaga is 0-for-his-last-11.

TRANSACTIONS:
* None Today.

by
Bryan Eubank