Braves Fall in Wild Finale, L, 7-6

In a game featuring Braves 4 ejections, including Manager Phillip Wellman, the Braves dropped the series finale to the Lookouts 7-6 in front of 4,240 fans at AT&T Field. With the loss the Braves (34-21) had their lead in the South Division trimmed to 4 games over the BayBears. They were unable to reduce their magic number as it stayed at 12 to clinch the first half with 15 games remaining. The Lookouts (24-31) remain 6.0 games back in the North Division race.

VIDEO OPTIONS:
Youtube Version - no commentary
ESPN Version with commentary

The chaos started in the 3rd inning as Wellman was ejected for the second time this season, but he didn't leave quietly. The former Lookouts Manager walked off the field to a standing ovation a few times. He first covered home plate completely with dirt. Then he removed third base and tossed it. He then crawled (like a soldier) from behind the pitcher's mound, grabbed the rosin bag and chucked it at home plate like a grenade. He then grabbed the already removed third base bag and removed the the second base bag and dropped them in right field on his way off the field.

Kelvin Villa (3-3, 4.75 ERA), was touched for three runs in the first 4 innings. In the 5th play was stopped as Brent Rice thought he found a foreign substance on the ball. After meeting with his crew he ejected Villa. Joey Devine and Mike Rozema were also tossed trying to vouch for their pitcher. The Braves still recovered from all of that to take a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the 8th inning, only to watch Zach Schreiber struggle. Schreiber walked three batters and gave up a bases-loaded walk to tie the game and a two-run single by Drew Anderson to give the Lookouts the lead...all with two outs on the board.

The Braves rallied in the 9th again as an ailing Diory Hernandez dropped in a double to score Carl Loadenthal who walked to lead off the inning. Mark Jurich struck out to end the game with the tying run at second base as Carlos Guevara notched his 3rd save of the series and his 6th of the season.

Van Pope was the Braves Players of the Game as finished 3-for-4 at the plate. He also drove in the go-ahead run in the 8th inning on his hustling infield single.

The Braves will start up a 5-game series in Pearl, Mississippi at Trustmark Park as they take on the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, the AA Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, in the first 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 Francisely Bueno (2-2, 3.09 ERA) to the hill in search of his 3rd win, while the D-Jaxx will counter with LHP Justin Thomas (1-2, 3.23 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: 3:01 (:37 minute delay to start the game) --- ATTENDANCE: 4,240

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves fall to 17-13 on the road.
* The Braves fall to 11-8 in one-run games.
* The Braves fall to 23-9 when scoring 4 or more runs.
* The Braves fall to 7-9 when their opponent scores first.
* The Braves registered 10 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $413 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (2 games or more):
* Mark Jurich -4 games (7-16, .438)
* Ray Serrano - 5 games (8-16, .500)
* Mike Rozema - 5 games (8-19, .421)
* Clint Sammons - 4 games (5-16, .313)
* Carl Loadenthal - 7 games (11-27, .407)
* Diory Hernandez - 3 games (3-12, .250)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

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