Braves Rough Up D-Jaxx: W, 9-0

The Braves used three homeruns and eleven strikeouts to cruise past the Diamond-Jaxx 9-0 Monday night in front of an announced Home Opening crowd of 1,385 at Pringles Park. The Braves pitching staff (Team ERA - 1.74) didn't allow a D-Jaxx baserunner past first base all night while striking out six of the last nine batters and inducing two double plays.

Lefty Matt Harrison (2-0, 1.69 ERA) pitched a season-high 6 innings while giving up two hits and two runs. Michael Nix, appearing in his first AA game, struck out 5 of the 6 batters he faced. Charlie Morton finished off the night with a punch-out of Marshall Hubbard punctuating the shutout. It marked the second shutout of the season for the Braves and the third time this season the D-Jaxx have failed to score.

After going quietly in the first, the Braves got the scoring started in the 2nd inning on Matt Esquivel's 3rd homerun of the season driving in Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Esquivel now leads the Southern League with 12 RBIs. The scoring continued on Carl Loadenthal's RBI single which scored Greg Creek, and it wrapped up on the double steal of Hernandez stealing home while Loadenthal took second base.

Diory Hernandez picked up his first AA hit in the 4th inning with a two-out solo homerun to left field. The Braves scored again in the 7th as Diory Hernandez doubled to lead off the inning and scored on Brent Lillibridge's Sac Fly. The Braves kept the barrage going with a two-run homer by Josh Burrus which helped him break out of an 0-for-15 slump. The Braves capped the scoring in the 9th as Lillibridge came home to score on a wild pitch by Jose' De La Cruz.

The only D-Jaxx player to record a hit was Chris Minaker as he finished 3-for-4 on the night. Juan Done was called in early to relieve starter Jason Mackintosh (1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 1 HB) and pitched through the 7th.

The Braves stayed at #2 in the Southern League South standings with Birmingham's 10th inning win over Montgomery.

The Braves will continue 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 Game Two of the series. 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 Jo-Jo Reyes (0-0, 2.79 ERA) to the hill, while the D-Jaxx will counter with RHP Andy Baldwin (0-1, 2.45 ERA). 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: 2:25 --- ATTENDANCE: 1,385

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves have won 8 of their last 10 games.
* The Braves improve to 7-2 when scoring first.
* The Braves improve to 3-1 in errorless games.
* The Braves improve to 4-0 when hitting a homerun.
* The Braves improve to 1-1 on the first game of a road trip.
* The Braves improve to 1-1 on the first game following an off day.
* The Braves finished the night 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
* The Braves registered 11 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $93 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (3 games or more):
* Brandon Jones - 3 games - (6-13, .462)
* Matt Esquivel - 3 games - (5-11, .455)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED
* Josh Burrus (0-15) - (1-4, 2-run HR)

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS (More than 0-4)
* Jonathan Schuerholz (0-5)
* Greg Creek (0-15)
* Van Pope (0-15)

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

by
Bryan Eubank