Braves Clinch Third Series: W, 12-2

The Braves scored 12 unanswered runs to come back and shock the Diamond-Jaxx 12-2 on Thursday night in front of an announced crowd of 909 at Pringles Park. With the win the Braves clinched their third straight series win to start the season and moved into a first place tie with the Birmingham Barons in the South Division.

Dan Smith (2-1, 1.80 ERA) exited after 5 innings trailing 2-0. It looked like he would be tagged with his 2nd loss until the Braves offense finally gave him some run support by picking up 5 runs in the 6th, 4 runs in the 7th and 3 runs in the 8th. Smith's lone loss came to the Carolina Mudcats as the Braves offense was shutout.

The Braves bullpen, which fell apart Wednesday night was solid Thursday night in shutting down any hope of a comeback against the D-Jaxx. Michael Nix and Joe Winkelsas combined to toss four shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out three. Winkelsas now leads the league (0.00 ERA) with 13.2 IP without allowing a run.

The Braves (10-4) trailed 2-0 after the 4th inning but got it going in the 6th as 6 of the 10 batters that went to the plate put the first pitch into play. Of those 6 batters only two failed to reach base safely as the Braves collected three straight hits to start the inning. Then the D-Jaxx (5-9) fell apart defensively as they were charged with two errors which allowed three runs to score. The Braves sent 18 batters to the plate in the 6th (10) and 7th (8) innings combined.

Van Pope finally broke out of his 0-for-27 slump with a two-run double in the 4-run seventh inning. Jarrod Saltalamacchia finished 3-for-4 on the night and raised his average to a season high and league-leading .395 clip. Fernando Lunar replaced him defensively in the 7th and picked up a single in his only at-bat in the 8th. Matt Esquivel belted his League-leading 4th homer (3-run HR) of the season in the 8th inning. Brandon Jones picked up his 7th multi-hit game of the season and padded his League lead in hits to 21. Mark Jurich also picked up his first multi-hit game of the year (2-5, 3 RBIs).

The Braves got at least one base hit from 9 of the 10 batters in the lineup and RBIs from five different Braves. They also finished 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, while the D-Jaxx went just 1-for-7 in that same category.

The Braves have won 10 of their last 13 games and have yet to lose two straight games this season.

The Braves will wrap up their five game set in Jackson, Tennessee at Pringles Park as they take on the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, the AA Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, in the series finale. The Braves On Deck Circle presented by Wendy's will start things off at 6:05pm, with the First Pitch to follow at 7:05pm (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send LHP Kelvin Villa (1-1, 3.86 ERA) to the hill for his third start of the year, while the D-Jaxx will counter with RHP Joe Woerman (0-0, 2.08 ERA) also in his third start of the season. If you're headed to or are already in Jackson, TN then take your radio and tune to 104.3-FM to hear the Braves version of the broadcast.


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.

GAME TIME: 2:37 --- ATTENDANCE: 909

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves have won 10 of their last 13 games.
* The Braves improve to 6-0 when hitting a homerun.
* The Braves tied a season high with 12 runs scored.
* The Braves improve to 2-1 when their opponent scores first.
* The Braves have at least one extra base hit in every game this season.
* The Braves are now 8-for-35 with runners in scoring position in the series.
* The Braves registered 8 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $117 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (3 games or more):
* Jarrod Saltalamacchia - 4 games - (8-16, .500)
* Mark Jurich - 4 games - (5-13, .385)
* Greg Creek - 3 games - (5-11, .455)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED
* Jonathan Schuerholz (0-8) - (1-5, R)
* Carl Loadenthal (0-6) - (1-6, 1B)
* Van Pope (0-27) - (1-5, 2R, 2B, 2 RBIs)

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS (More than 0-4)
* Brent Lillibridge (0-12)
* Diory Hernandez (0-7)

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

by
Bryan Eubank