Braves Hold On Against Lookouts: W, 9-6

The Braves once again put a big lead on the scoreboard with a six-run 3rd inning against the Lookouts and this time the bullpen held on for a 9-6 win in front of 2,756 fans at AT&T Field. With the win the Braves (33-20) increased their lead in the South Division to 4 games over the Suns and 5 over the Biscuits. They also reduced their magic number down to 14 to clinch the first half with 17 games remaining. The Lookouts (23-30) had their 3-game win streak halted but remained 5.0 games back in the North Division race.

Jo-Jo Reyes (6-1, 4.18 ERA), had an on-and-off performance. He gave up a two-run homer in the first and seventh inning while striking out 10 in the 2nd through the 6th. Reyes picked up his team-leading sixth win of the season and won for the 5th time in his last 6 games while moving into a tie for 2nd in wins in the Southern League. Reyes also doubled and scored in the six-run 3rd inning. Jose Ascanio entered in the 7th and gave up a two-out RBI single to trim the lead to three before striking out three of the last 4 batters he faced. Joey Devine gave up a bloop single and hit a batter but still struck out the side to notch his League Leading 12th save of the season. The Braves struck out a season high 16 batters as each batter in the lineup struck out at least once.

The Braves chased James Avery (5-5, 5.31 ERA) from the game after he gave up all 9 runs on 10 hits while giving up 2 two-run homeruns to Brandon Jones (9th) and Mark Jurich (2nd). The Lookouts bullpen tossed 5 scoreless innings while striking out 8 Braves and stranding 6 baserunners.

Brent Lillibridge was the Braves Player of the Game as he finished 2-for-4 at the plate with 3 RBIs on his triple in the 3rd inning. He also singled and was hit by a pitch to lead the team in that category (5).

The Braves will continue their 5-game series in Chattanooga, Tennessee at AT&T Field as they take on the Chattanooga Lookouts, the AA Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, in the fourth game of their Southern League Series. The Braves On Deck Circle presented by Wendy's will air starting at 5:15pm (CT). The First Pitch will follow at 6:15pm (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send RHP Charlie Morton (5-1, 3.98 ERA) to the hill in search of his 3rd win, while the Lookouts will counter with RHP Carlos Fisher (1-1, 1.17 ERA) who is looking for his second victory as well. Make sure you take your radio to the game and tune to the exclusive AT&T Field frequency - 101.3-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: 2:57 --- ATTENDANCE: 2,756

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves improve to 16-12 on the road.
* The Braves improve to 7-5 in three-run games.
* The Braves improve to 27-12 when scoring first.
* The Braves improve to 19-8 when hitting a homerun.
* The Braves improve to 22-8 when scoring 4 or more runs.
* The Braves pitchers set a new season high in strikeouts (16).
* The Braves improve to 28-0 when leading after eight innings.
* The Braves batters set a new season high in hits in a game (17).
* The Braves batters set a new season high in extra base hits in a game (8).
* The Braves registered 16 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $393 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (2 games or more):
* Mark Jurich -2 games (5-8, .625)
* Ray Serrano - 4 games (5-12, .417)
* Mike Rozema - 3 games (5-13, .385)
* Clint Sammons - 2 games (3-10, .300)
* Brent Lillibridge - 3 games (4-13, .308)
* Carl Loadenthal - 5 games (9-20, .450)
* Diory Hernandez - 2 games (2-7, .286)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* Josh Burrus - 2 games (3-8, .375)

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED:
* Van Pope (0-9) - 2nd innings single
* Matt Esquivel (0-10) - 1st inning single
* Brandon Jones (0-4) - 1st inning 2-run Homerun

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS:
* Greg Creek (0-6)
* Fernando Lunar (0-11) - (DL)

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

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

by
Bryan Eubank