Three Braves Tossed in Finale Loss: L, 9-6

Long balls were the theme in Montgomery on Sunday afternoon as the Braves and Biscuits each hit a pair of homeruns as the Biscuits topped the Braves in the series finale 9-6. The game was complete with fireworks on the field as Manager Phillip Wellman, Outfielder Matt Esquivel and Pitcher Zach Schreiber were all tossed in the 6th inning arguing balls and strikes. The Biscuits (15-15) became the first team to take a series from the Braves (20-10) this season and also send them to their third straight loss in front of an announced crowd of 3,993 at Riverwalk Stadium. The Braves lead in the South Division has been trimmed to 3 games by the Jacksonville Suns.

Braves starter Kelvin Villa (2-2, 2.41 ERA) struggled giving up 6 runs in the first three innings on a season-high 10 hits. The bullpen was strong until the 7th when Brad Nelson gave up a costly 3-run Homerun to John Jaso that just snuck out over the right field wall that pushed the lead to 6 for Montgomery. The Braves ERA skyrocketed to 3.03 but they still remain in first in the Southern League ahead of Birmingham - 3.09 ERA.

The middle relief was the story for the Biscuits as they held the Braves scoreless and limited them to just 1 hit from the 5th through the 8th innings while surrendering 4 walks in the process.

Brandon Jones was the Braves Player of the Game as he picked up his second multi-homerun game of the road trip while becoming the second Brave to drive in 5 runs in this series (Josh Burrus drove in 5 in Game 1). Carl Loadenthal extended his hitting streak to a team-high 11 games with an infield single in the top of the 9th.

The Braves will start up a 5-game homestand in Pearl, Mississippi at Trustmark Park as they take on the West Tennessee Diamon 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 not air due to the Rebel Yell Hotline. The broadcast will begin at approximately 7:00pm (CT), while the First Pitch will follow at 7:05pm (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send LHP Matt Harrison (4-0, 2.14 ERA) to the hill still in search of his league-leading fifth win, while the Diamond-Jaxx will counter with RHP Juan Done (1-2, 3.00 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 To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.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: 2:47 --- ATTENDANCE: 3,993

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves fall to 7-2 in day games.
* The Braves fall to 11-9 on the road.
* The Braves fall to 13-4 with a homerun.
* The Braves fall to 5-5 when allowing a homerun.
* The Braves fall to 4-2 in the last game of a series.
* The Braves fall to 1-2 in the last game of a road trip.
* The Braves fall to 5-4 when their opponenet scores first.
* The Braves registered 6 more strikeout on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $219 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (2 games or more):
* Mike Rozema - 2 games - (2-6, .333) - DNP
* Brandon Jones - 5 games - (7-21, .333)
* Carl Loadenthal - 11 games - (16-42, .381)
* Brent Lillibridge - 2 games - (3-8, .375)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* Josh Burrus - 3 games - (4-10, .400)
* Ray Serrano - 2 games - (2-8, .250) - (0-4)

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED
* Van Pope (0-12) - 4th inning RBI single

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS (More than 0-3)
* Ray Serrano (0-7)
* Matt Esquivel (0-7)
* Fernando Lunar (0-11) - Did Not Play (DL)

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

by
Bryan Eubank