Braves Return Favor & Blank Cats: W, 1-0

One night after being shutout 2-0 by Carolina, the M-Braves returned the favor with a 1-0 blanking of the Mudcats in front of an announced Friday night season-high crowd of 4,536 at Trustmark Park. With the shutout the Braves pitching staff moved up to #2 in the league in pitching (2.02 ERA). Their bats came back to life as well after being held to just 4 hits the night before...the Braves notched 7 hits which bumped them up to #3 in the league in hitting (.255 avg). Brandon Jones and Matt Esquivel both finished 3-for-4 at the plate while Esquivel drove in the only run - his League-leading 10th RBI of the young season.

Kelvin Villa (1-1, 3.86 ERA) picked up his first career AA win with 5 1/3 scoreless innings. He still allowed 6 walks but did strike out 7 Mudcats. Charlie Morton and Jeff Bennett kept the game close allowing Zach Schreiber to toss the 9th for his second save of the season. The Mudcats failed to advance a runner past second base after the 3rd inning.

The Braves will wrap up 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 series finale. The Braves On Deck Circle presented by Wendy's will start things off at 6:05pm while the First Pitch will follow at 7:05pm (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send RHP Jose Ascanio (0-0, 4.50 ERA) to the hill, while the Mudcats will counter with RHP James Brauer(0-1, 8.10 ERA). The game can be heard locally on SuperSport 930 (WSFZ-AM-930) or exclusively at Trustmark Park on 104.3FM.

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 To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.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: 2:49 --- ATTENDANCE: 4,536

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves improve to 2-1 in one-run games.
* The Braves improve to 6-2 when scoring first.
* The Braves finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
* JC Holt left the game with a pulled hamstring in the 3rd inning.
* The Braves have outscored the Mudcats 16-10 so far in the series.
* This was the second two-hitter the Braves have tossed this season.
* The Braves, so far, have followed each loss this season with a win.
* Jarrod Saltalamacchia's 3 HRs lead the Southern League, while the Braves also lead the League in Team Homeruns (6).
* The Braves registered 10 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $74 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (3 games or more):
* Jarrod Saltalamacchia - 6 games - (9-19, .474)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* JC Holt - 7 games - (13-32, .406)

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED
* Matt Esquivel (0-7)

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS (More than 0-4)
* Josh Burrus (0-12)
* Van Pope (0-11)

TRANSACTIONS:
* Francisely Bueno placed back on the temporary inactive list.
* Michael Nix promoted from High A Myrtle Beach.
* Ryan Basner placed on the disabled list.

by
Bryan Eubank