Braves Sweep Barons Back to B'Ham:W,5-2

The MS Braves pulled off their first-ever 5-game sweep in team history with a 5-2 victory over the Birmingham Barons in front of a Wednesday afternoon crowd of 4,208 at Trustmark Park. The Braves (15-5) increased their lead to four games in the South Division over the Barons (11-9) and Suns (11-9).

The Braves got on the board early as Jarrod Saltalamacchia ripped a two-run double off the first base bag scoring Loadenthal and Lillibridge. The Braves have now outscored their opponents 16-5 in the first inning this season. The Braves have also scored first in 15 of their first 20 games.

Kelvin Villa (2-1, 3.72 ERA) struggled early giving up a two-run homer to Donny Lucy that tied the game in the 2nd. The Braves answered, however, in the bottom of the 2nd as Loadenthal dropped a single down the left field line to score a pair and Mark Jurich hit a Sac Fly to right to bring home the third run of the inning. The Braves outscored the Barons 19-9 in the series. The Barons managed to send more than 4 batters to the plate in just 8 of the 45 innings.

The bullpen for the Braves was lights out once again as Jose Ascanio and Ryan Basner kept the Barons from getting a baserunner in the 6th, 7th and 8th. Joey Devine pitched around a lead-off single thanks to a dynamite double play started by Van Pope for his League-Leading fourth save of the season. The Braves lowered their team ERA down to a Southern League Leading 2.27.

Kris Honel (1-1, 4.61 ERA) lasted just 3 innings giving up all 5 runs on 5 hits while walking a batter and hitting a batter and striking out 5. The Barons bullpen was solid pitching 5 scoreless innings of relief to keep the Barons in the game.

Carl Loadenthal was the Player of the Game as he finished the game 3-for-4 with 2 Runs scored and 2 RBIs. Brent Lillibridge had a great game going 3-for-3 at the plate while scoring once and drawing a walk to reach base safely all 4 times he came to the plate. Diory Hernandez raised his batting average to .343 with a 2-for-3 performance. And finally Jarrod Saltalamacchia's first inning single improved his team high hit streak to 9 games.

The Braves will enjoy an off day on Thursday and start up 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 First Game of their Southern League Series. 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 LHP Matt Harrison (2-0, 3.20 ERA) to the hill in search of his third win, while the BayBears will counter with RHP Chris Kinsey (0-2, 5.68 ERA) who is seeking his first victory. 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: 2:28 --- ATTENDANCE: 4,208

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves improved to 9-1 at Trustmark Park.
* The Braves improved to 3-1 in three-run games.
* The Braves improved to 11-4 when scoring first.
* The Braves improved to 3-1 in the series finale.
* The Braves improved to 3-2 when allowing a homerun.
* The Braves improved to 2-0 in the last game of a homestand.
* The Braves improved to 12-0 when leading after eight innings.
* The Braves had their streak of at least one extra base in every game end.
* The Braves registered 6 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $163 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (3 games or more):
* Jarrod Saltalamacchia - 9 games - (14-34, .412) (Team High)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* Greg Creek - 7 games - (10-24, .417) - (0-4)
* Mark Jurich - 7 games - (10-24, .417) - (0-2)

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED
* NONE

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS (More than 0-4)
* Jonathan Schuerholz (0-7) - Did Not Play
* Fernando Lunar (0-11)
* Josh Burrus (0-9) - Did Not Bat

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

by
Bryan Eubank