Lillibridge Lifts Braves in 11th: W, 6-5 (11)

Brent Lillibridge smashed a bases-loaded RBI single past Birmingham closer, and Jackson, MS native, Dewon Day as the Braves (11-5) scored two runs in the bottom of the eleventh to steal a win away from the Barons (11-5) in front of a season high crowd of 4,905 at Trustmark Park. With the win the Barons and the Braves are back in a tie for 1st place in the South Division.

Lefty Matt Harrison (2-0, 3.20 ERA) had a rough night at the office as he failed to make it out of the 4th inning while giving up 4 runs on 6 hits and a season-high 3 walks. The Braves bullpen kept the Barons at bay not allowing a single run until the Barons manufactured one in the 11th. In fact the bullpen didn't allow a runner past second base from the 4th through the 10th innings. Jose Ascanio and Joe Winkelsas combined to toss 5 1/3 innings of scoreless two-hit relief.

The Braves got on the board first as Loadenthal and Creek started the 1st and 2nd innings with lead-off walks. Loadenthal was brought home on an RBI groundout by Brandon Jones, while Creek came home on an infield single by Diory Hernandez as Jeremy West was appealing a call at first base.

Matt Harrison aided the Barons comeback in the 3rd as he allowed all four runs to score on two outs in the 3rd inning. The Braves battled back to tie it with an RBI infield single by Diory Hernandez in the 4th inning and an RBI single by Brent Lillibridge in the 7th inning.

The Barons took the lead in the top of the 11th inning as Ricardo Ninita drew a lead off walk then moved to 2nd on a sacrifice by Jeremy Frost. Frost was safe at first on an error by Saltalamacchia and then another sac bunt by Michael Myers moved both runners up a bag. Then Jason Bourgeois delivered a sac fly to drive in the go-ahead run. The Braves rally started with a one-out walk to Van Pope and then Mark Jurich reached on an error by 3B Chris Kelly. Diory Hernandez looked to have won the game until his double down the right field line was interfered with and only one run was allowed to score. An intentional walk to Carl Loadenthal loaded the bases and set up the dramatics for Lillibridge.

The Braves finished 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position , while the Barons went just 3-for-11 in that same category.

The Braves will continue a five game set in Pearl, Mississippi at Trustmark Park as they take on the Birmingham Barons, the AA Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, in Game Two of the Southern League Series. The Braves On Deck Circle presented by Wendy's will start things off at 12:05pm, with the First Pitch to follow at 1:05pm (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send LHP Jo-Jo Reyes (0-0, 1.88 ERA) to the hill in search of his first win, while the Barons will counter with LHP Gio Gonzalez (3-0, 1.17 ERA) looking to stay perfect on the year. Make sure you take your radio to the game and tune to the exclusive Trustmark Park 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: 3:24 --- ATTENDANCE: 4,905 (Trustmark Park - Season High)

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves improved to 4-1 in one-run games.
* The Braves improved to 5-1 at Trustmark Park.
* The Braves improved to 9-4 when scoring first.
* The Braves improved to 5-0 when following a loss.
* The Braves improved to 2-1 in extra inning games.
* The Braves improved to 3-1 in the first game of a series.
* The Braves improved to 2-0 in the first game of a homestand.
* The Braves have recorded at least one extra base hit in every game this season.
* The Braves registered 8 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $129 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (3 games or more):
* Jarrod Saltalamacchia - 5 games - (9-21, .429)
* Mark Jurich - 6 games - (9-21, .429)
* Greg Creek - 5 games - (8-18, .444)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* Brandon Jones - 3 games - (5-10, .500)

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED
* Diory Hernandez (0-9) - (3-4, 2B, 3 RBIs)

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS (More than 0-4)
* Matt Esquivel (0-9)
* Van Pope (0-6)

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

by
Bryan Eubank