Braves Win 6th Series of the Year: W, 3-1

Mark Jurich blooped a 6th inning RBI single to score Matt Esquivel as the Braves put the finishing touches on their 6th series win in front of an announced crowd of 5,194 at Trustmark Park. The Braves (23-12) pushed their lead in the South Division back to 3 games over the Jacksonville Suns. The Diamond Jaxx (16-19) dropped back into a tie for third place, two games behind the Tennessee Smokies in the North Division.

Braves starter Kelvin Villa (3-2, 4.96 ERA) was sharp as he scattered 4 hits and allowed just a Sac Fly to Matt Tuiasosopo for the only West Tenn run. Villa induced a Double Play to get out of a lead off walk to start the game. The D-Jaxx also loaded up the bases in the 5th inning only to see Villa wriggle off the hook with a lineout and groundout to Brent Lillibridge. Jose Ascanio tossed two scoreless innings of relief allowing just a single that was erased on a Jeff Frazier Double Play. Then Joey Devine tossed a perfect 9th to pick up his Southern League Leading 9th save. The Braves team ERA fell to 2.94 - they remained in first place in the Southern League ahead of Birmingham - 3.16 ERA.

Joey Devine was the Braves Player of the Game as he retired all three batters in a perfect 9th along with two strikeouts to pick up his League Best 9th save. Carl Loadenthal extended his hitting streak to a team-high 16 games with a two-out bloop single in the 8th inning. He finished 1-for-4. Brandon Jones finished 2-for-4 at the plate while Matt Esquivel drew a pair of walks and scored his League Leading 28th run. West Tennessee's Jeff Frazier also extended his hitting streak to a season-high and Southern League best 18 games.

The Braves will start up a 5-game homestand in Hoover, Alabama at Regions Park as they take on the Birmingham Barons, the AA Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, in the First Game of their Southern League Series. The Braves On Deck Circle presented by Wendy's start things off at 6:05pm. The First Pitch will follow at 7:05pm (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send LHP Matt Harrison (4-1, 3.35 ERA) to the hill still in search of his League Best fifth win, while the Barons will counter with RHP Kris Honel (1-1, 4.82 ERA) who is looking for his second victory. Make sure you take your radio to the game and tune to the exclusive Regions Park frequency - 93.1-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 To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.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: 2:35 --- ATTENDANCE: 5,194

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves improve to 16-10 in night games.
* The Braves improve to 12-3 at Trustmark Park.
* The Braves imrpove to 18-7 when scoring first.
* The Braves improve to 5-3 when scoring three runs.
* The Braves imrpove to 5-2 in the last game of a series.
* The Braves improve to 18-6 when not allowing a homerun.
* The Braves imrpove to 3-0 in the last game of a homestand.
* The Braves improve to 20-0 when leading after eight innings.
* The Braves registered 9 more strikeout on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $248 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (2 games or more):
* J.C. Holt - 2 games - (3-7, .429)
* Mark Jurich - 2 games - (3-8, .375)
* Diory Hernandez - 2 games - (4-6, .667)
* Brent Lillibridge - 3 games - (5-12, .417)
* Carl Loadenthal - 16 games - (24-63, .381)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED
* * Brandon Jones (0-8) - 3rd Inning RBI Double

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS (More than 0-3)
* Van Pope (0-11)
* Josh Burrus (0-6)
* Ray Serrano (0-11)
* Matt Esquivel (0-6)
* Clint Sammons (0-8)
* Fernando Lunar (0-11) - (DL)

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE.

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

by
Bryan Eubank