Braves Pour Salt on Cats : W, 12-6

The Braves scored 6 runs in the 5th inning to pound the Carolina Mudcats into submission in front of a Home Opening Crowd of 2,957 at Trustmark Park. The Braves never trailed in the game, scoring in the first three innings before their 5th inning explosion. It marked the 5th straight game that the Braves have scored in the 1st inning. They added three in the 8th to cap the scoring.

Lefty Matt Harrison (1-0, 2.70 ERA) benefited from the offensive output picking up his first win of the season. Jesus Delgado (1-1, 7.00 ERA) suffered through but never made it out of the 5th inning.

The Braves bats were red hot again as they collected 6 extra base hits out of their 14 total hits inlcuding three long balls. Saltalamacchia got the Home Run Derby started with a solo shot in the 3rd over the Crystal Springs Ford Lincoln Mercury Cafe' and then nearly matched the shot in the 8th. One pitch later, Matt Esquivel launched his 2nd of the season to the left field bullpen as the Braves went back-to-back on consecutive pitches for the first time since McCann and Thorman accomplished the feat on April 20, 2005.

Every player in the lineup collected at least one base hit while three Braves (Jones, Salty, and Esquivel) had multi-hit nights.

The Braves will continue a five game set in Pearl, Mississippi at Trustmark Park as they take on the Carolina Mudcats, the AA Affiliate of the Florida Marlins, in the second game of the series. The Braves On Deck Circle presented by Wendy's will not air due to the early start but the First Pitch will take place at 11:05 AM (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send LHP Jo-Jo Reyes (0-0, 1.93 ERA) to the hill, while the Mudcats will counter with RHP Daniel Barone (0-1, 5.40 ERA).

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 To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.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 4-2 when scoring first.
* Six of the eight position players scored at least one run.
* The Braves have scored first in all six games of the season.
* The Braves finished 6-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
* The Braves have outscored their opponents 12-1 in the first inning.
* The Braves have now scored in the first inning five straight games.
* All eight position players picked up a hit tonight (2nd straight game).
* The Braves registered 6 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $43 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)
* Saltalamacchia's two-homer game was the first of the season. He was the last Brave to accomplish that feat on July 27, 2006.


ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (3 games or more):
* Jarrod Saltalamacchia - 4 games - (7-15, .467)
* Brent Lillibridge - 6 games - (8-25, .320)
* Brandon Jones - 6 games - (9-25, .360)
* Matt Esquivel - 5 games - (8-20, .400)
* Josh Burrus - 4 games - (4-12, .333)
* Greg Creek - 4 games - (4-12, .333)
* Van Pope - 6 games - (6-24, .250)
* JC Holt - 5 games - (10-24, .417)


HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS (More than 0-4):
* Mark Jurich (0-11)

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

by
Bryan Eubank