Braves Give One Away to BayBears: L, 4-3

The Mobile BayBears rode a pair of two-run homers to victory Monday night over the League Leading Mississippi Braves in front of 4,366 fans at Hank Aaron Stadium. Chris Rahl belted his 2nd Homerun of the season in the 5th to tie the game and Javier Brito launched his 2nd Homerun of the season, to take the lead in the bottom of the 8th. The Braves and Barons both lost so their lead stays at 3 1/2 games in the South Division.

The Braves (17-7) finished their best April in their 3-year history in Mississippi with 17 wins. It was also their second best month on record as they finished with 18 wins in the May of 2005.

It was billed as a pitcher's duel as both starters came in with sub 2.00 ERA's but neither factored in the decision as the BayBears (12-12) stole one away from the Braves. BayBears starter Matt Green (3-0, 1.61 ERA) gave up all 3 runs and both homers in his seven innings of work. He did avoid giving up a walk while striking out 9 Braves batters. Braves starter Dan Smith (3-1, 1.95 ERA) was a little erratic at times doubling his walk total for the season while striking out 5 and giving up the first two-run homerun to Rahl. The Braves ERA rose back to 2.45 but they still remain in first in the Southern League ahead of Birmingham - 2.72 ERA.

Matt Esquivel claimed the RBI lead with his solo shot in the 2nd inning, only to see Brandon Jones tie him back up in the 6th inning with his line-drive homer off the right field wall. It was the second time Esquivel has homered in back-to-back games. The other Braves run came in the 5th as Greg Creek and Diory Hernandez belted back-to-back doubles to score Creek.

Brandon Jones was the Braves Player of the Game as he finished the game 1-for-4 with a solo HR ending a 0-13 hitless streak and breaking a 2-2 tie in the 6th inning. Diory Hernandez had his fifth straight 2-hit game and raised his batting average to a team-best .400. Greg Creek also had a 2-hit performance.

The Braves will continue a ten-day road trip with a five game set in Mobile, Alabama at Hank Aaron Stadium as they take on the Mobile BayBears, the AA Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the Final Game of their Southern League Series. The Braves On Deck Circle presented by Wendy's will start things off at 11:05am (CT), while the First Pitch will follow at 11:35am (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send LHP Kelvin Villa (2-1, 3.72 ERA) to the hill in search of his third win, while the BayBears will counter with RHP Osbeck Castillo (1-0, 5.84 ERA) who is seeking his second victory as well. Make sure you take your radio to the game and tune to the exclusive Hank Aaron Stadium frequency - 104.3-FM.

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: 2:25 --- ATTENDANCE: 4,366

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves fall to 8-6 on the road.
* The Braves fall to 12-6 when scoring first.
* The Braves fell to 4-4 when allowing a homerun.
* The Braves fell to 10-2 when hitting a homerun.
* The Braves fall to 14-2 when leading after seven innings.
* The Braves had their 9th multi-homer game of the season. They are 2nd in the League with 23 HRs.
* The Braves registered 8 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $190 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (3 games or more):
* Matt Esquivel - 3 games - (5-10, .500)
* Carl Loadenthal - 6 games - (9-23, .391)
* Diory Hernandez - 6 games - (11-21, .524)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* Van Pope - 3 games - (3-12, .250)

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED
* Brandon Jones (0-13) - (Solo Homerun in 6th)

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS (More than 0-4)
* Brent Lillibridge (0-5)
* Jarrod Saltalamacchia (0-9)
* Fernando Lunar (0-11) - Did Not Play
* Josh Burrus (0-12) - Pinch Hit in the 9th

TRANSACTIONS:
* Jonathan Schuerholz was promoted to AAA Richmond.
* Mike Rozema was promoted from High A Myrtle Beach.
(These are due to the promotion of Willie Harris to Atlanta, after the Ryan Langerhans trade to Oakland)

by
Bryan Eubank