Braves Barely Blank Biscuits: W, 3-0

Three Braves pitchers combined to shutout the Biscuits and clinch the series against Montgomery in 3-0 fashion and in front of 4,371 fans at Trustmark Park. Brent Lillibridge belted his 3rd homerun of the season to start the scoring in the first, while Joey Devine walked the bases loaded with two outs in the 9th before ending the game on his second strikeout as he picked up his Southern League leading 11th save. With the win the Braves (32-17) extend their lead in the South Division to 5 games over the Suns. The Biscuits (26-23) trail by 6 games, BayBears by 7 and Barons by 10.5. The Braves are now 17-7 at Trustmark Park this season and have now won 8 of the first 10 series.

Lefty Francisely Bueno (2-2, 3.09 ERA), tossed 6 scoreless innings while scattering 5 hits and registering 4 strikeouts. Jose Ascanio pitched 2 innings while giving up two hits and striking out three. Devine's three walks in the 9th were the only walks issued in the game as he also tossed a pair of strikeouts including the game-ending K to Jason Pridie. The Braves staff still leads the league in home runs allowed (19), ERA (2.99) Saves (17), and they are tied in shutouts (5).

Brent Lillibridge was the Brave Player of the Game as Brent finished 2-for-4 at the plate with with his 3rd homerun of the season and a 3rd inning single. Lillibridge turned an impressive double play to end the 1st and a sensational assist in the 8th to keep the Biscuits off the board. Loadenthal, Jones and Sammons all collected two-hit games.

Biscuits lefty Jon Barratt (0-3, 2.84 ERA) was charged with the loss as he scattered 9 Braves hits while inducing 2 ground ball double plays and a lineout double play. Derek Feldkamp tossed the final two innings against the Braves striking out three and giving up one hit.

The Braves will wrap up their 10-game homestand in Pearl, Mississippi at Trustmark Park as they take on the Montgomery Biscuits, the AA Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, in the final game of their Southern League Series. The Braves On Deck Circle presented by Wendy's will air starting at 12:05pm (CT). The First Pitch will follow at 1:05pm (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send LHP Kelvin Villa (3-3, 5.36 ERA) to the hill in search of his 4th win, while the Biscuits will counter with LHP Mike Prochaska (1-4, 4.87 ERA) who is looking for his second victory. 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: 2:28 --- ATTENDANCE: 4,371

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves improve to 17-7 at home.
* The Braves improve to 24-13 in night games.
* The Braves improve to 26-10 when scoring first.
* The Braves improve to 18-7 when hitting a homerun.
* The Braves improve to 27-11 when scoring 3 or more runs.
* The Braves improve to 27-0 when leading after eight innings.
* The Braves registered 9 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $359 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (2 games or more):
* Greg Creek - 2 games (2-6, .333)
* Ray Serrano - 3 games (3-8, .375)
* Matt Esquivel - 4 games (7-17, .412)
* Clint Sammons - 4 games (5-16, .313)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* Josh Burrus - 4 games (7-13, .538)
* Diory Hernandez - 6 games (12-26, .462)

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED:
* Carl Loadenthal (0-7) - 5th inning single
* Brent Lillibridge (0-7) - 1st inning Homerun

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS:
* Josh Burrus (0-3)
* Mike Rozema (0-5)
* Mark Jurich (0-10)
* Fernando Lunar (0-11) - (DL)

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

(Players listed in Italics did not play in this game)

by
Bryan Eubank