Braves Halt 3-Game Slide: W, 4-3

The Braves used the long ball Wednesday night as Matt Esquivel and Clint Sammons both belted homeruns to lift the Braves 4-3 over the Biscuits in front of 2,765 at Trustmark Park. With the series opening win the Braves (30-16) pushed their lead in the South Division back to 5 games over the Suns and Biscuits (25-21). They also ended a 3-game losing skid while stopping the Biscuits 3-game win streak in the process. The Braves are now 15-6 at Trustmark Park this season and 11-3 in one-run games.

Lance Cormier (1-1, 4.50 ERA), making his 2nd Rehab start, was sensational as he scattered four hits in five innings of work while striking out four on just 67 pitches. Brad Nelson retired 6 of the first 8 he faced before giving up three singles to start the 8th inning. Jose Ascanio entered with the bases loaded and got a lineout to left by Brooks Badeaux and a sacrifice fly by Reid Brignac to get two quick outs. Evan Longoria followed with a two-out two-run double to bring the Biscuits to within one. Ascanio settled down to retire the final four batters he faced for his 3rd save of the season.

Clint Sammons collected his first AA Homerun on the first pitch of the 5th inning as he bounced one off the foul pole down the left field line. Josh Burrus continued to see the ball well collecting a pair of singles and a pair of walks.

Matt Esquivel was the Braves Player of the Game as he finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a three-run bomb into the Braves bullpen in the 3rd and a triple in the 6th. He now leads the Southern League with 12 HR and 41 RBIs.

Biscuits starter Chris Seddon (3-3, 4.65 ERA) made two mistakes that cost him with the two balls Esquivel and Sammons hit out of the park. He scattered three other hits while giving up four walks and striking out five. Only one walk he issued came in to score.

The Braves will continue 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 second game of their Southern League Series. The Braves On Deck Circle presented by Wendy's will air starting at 6:05pm (CT). The First Pitch will follow at 7:05pm (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send LHP Matt Harrison (4-1, 3.04 ERA) to the hill in search of his team high 5th win, while the Biscuits will counter with LHP Mike Prochaska (1-4, 4.87 ERA) who is looking for his fourth 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: 2:29 --- ATTENDANCE: 2,765

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves improve to 15-6 at home.
* The Braves improve to 17-7 with a homerun.
* The Braves improve to 22-12 in night games.
* The Braves improve to 3-1 following a off day.
* The Braves improve to 11-3 in one-run games.
* The Braves improve to 13-5 in errorless games.
* The Braves improve to 8-2 in the first game of a series.
* The Braves improve to 25-0 when leading after eight innings.
* The Braves improve to 24-9 when their opponent scores first.
* The Braves registered 6 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $325 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (2 games or more):
* Josh Burrus - 2 games (4-7, .571)
* Ray Serrano - 2 games (2-7, .286)
* Clint Sammons - 2 games (2-7, .286)
* Brent Lillibridge - 3 games (6-14, .429)
* Diory Hernandez - 4 games (6-15, .400)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED:
* Matt Esquivel (0-5) - 3rd inning 3-run Homerun

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS:
* Van Pope (0-10)
* Greg Creek (0-6)
* Mark Jurich (0-4)
* Brandon Jones (0-9)
* Fernando Lunar (0-11) - (DL)

TRANSACTIONS:
* RHP Zach Schreiber returned from AAA Richmond

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

by
Bryan Eubank