Biscuits Return The Favor, L: 9-5

A five-run 4th inning by the Biscuits was too much for the Braves to overcome as they dropped Game Three by a final of 9-5 in front of an announced crowd of 4,304 at Trustmark Park. The Braves (4-5) fell back under the five-hundred mark while moving to 46-33 on the season. The Biscuits (7-2) improved to 42-37 on the season and back into a tie for first in the South Divisionw with Jacksonville.

The Braves mounted a valiant comeback with 3 runs off of Juan Salas (making his first Major League Rehab appearance after serving a 50-game suspension for a positive test on performance-enhancing substances) in the 8th but Nick DeBarr induced an inning-ending double play that bounced off his pitching hand to get the Biscuits out of any further damage.

Charlie Morton (4-4, 4.60 ERA) was saddled with the loss, his first as a starter, as he allowed 7 runs on 9 hits, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in just 3 1/3 innings of work. Wade Davis (1-0, 2.31 ERA) picked up his first AA win as he baffled the Braves allowing just two runs on five hits in his 5 1/3 innings of work. He also struck out 7 and walked just 2.

Matt Esquivel was the Braves player of the game as he belted his 16th homerun of the season (2nd in that category) and drove in his league-leading 57th RBI. He also scored 2 more runs improving his total there to 54, just three behind Evan Longoria of Montgomery.

The Braves will continue a 6-game series in Pearl, Mississippi at Trustmark Park as they take on the Montgomery Biscuits, the AA Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, in the fourth game of their Southern League 6-Game 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 Kelvin Villa (4-5, 5.52 ERA) to the hill in search of his 5th win, while the Biscuits will counter with starter LHP Jon Barratt (1-5, 4.88 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 To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.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: 3:15

ATTENDANCE: 4,304 (142,110 Home Total - 3,740 Average)

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves fall to 24-14 at home.
* The Braves fall to 21-10 in errorless games.
* The Braves fall to 24-14 when hitting a homerun.
* The Braves fall to 34-14 when scoring 4 or more runs.
* The Braves fall to 3-30 when trailing after eight innings.
* The Braves fall to 11-20 when their opponent scores first.
* The Braves fall to 15-10 in games decided by more than 3 runs.
* The Braves registered 7 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $584 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (2 games or more):
* J.C. Holt - 2 games (3-9, .333)
* Mark Jurich - 2 games (5-9, .556)
* Mike Rozema - 2 games (2-7, .286)
* Diory Hernandez - 2 games (4-8, .500)
* Matt Esquivel - 4 games (5-16, .313)
* Carl Loadenthal - 7 games (8-28, .286)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* Greg Creek - 2 games (2-9, .222)

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS:
* NONE

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

by
Bryan Eubank