Braves Find A Way in Game One: W, 9-7

The Braves scored 4 runs in the 8th inning to rally from their biggest deficit of the season as they started off the second half with a 9-7 win over the Diamond Jaxx in front of 1,301 at Pringles Park. With the win the Braves (1-0) were able to stay in at least a tie for first which they have remained in since April 21st. The D-Jaxx (0-1) dropped their second straight decision.

The Braves scored first for the 46th time this season in 71 games jumping out to an early 4-1 lead in the first four innings before Rene Rivera launched a game-tying 3-run homerun in the bottom of the 4th inning. The D-Jaxx took their first lead of the game with a sacrifice fly by Matt Tuiasosopo in the 5th and padded their lead with a two more runs in the 7th inning.

The Braves finally woke up from their first-half victory haze in the 8th inning as Greg Creek started off with a one-out double. Ray Serrano then doubled him in to bring the Braves to within two. Two batters later Van Pope drew a two-out walk and then Mike Rozema knocked Serrano in with an RBI single. After a two-out walk by J.C. Holt to load the bases, Josh Burrus blooped a two-run single over the head of Tuiasosopo to give the Braves the lead. The Braves tacked on an insurance run in the 9th with an RBI single by Serrano.

Francisely Bueno (2-3, 3.75 ERA) didn't factor in the decision as he yielded the homer to Rivera and continued his up and down season in his six innings of work for the Braves. Tyler Bullock (1-0, 5.11 ERA) picked up the win in relief despite giving up two runs in his inning of work. Zach Schreiber and Joey Devine each worked perfect innings while Devine picked up his league-leading 16th save of the season.

Ray Serrano was the Braves Players of the Game as he picked up his second three hit game of the season with 2 doubles 2 RBIs and he also scored two runs. Serrano extended his hit streak to 10 games (17-36, .472).

The Braves will continue a 6-game series in Jackson, Tennessee at Pringles Park as they take on the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, the AA Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, in the second 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 Matt Harrison (5-2, 3.31 ERA) to the hill in search of his sixth win, while the D-Jaxx will counter with RHP Andy Baldwin (1-7, 5.38 ERA) who is looking for his second victory. Make sure you take your radio to the game and tune to the exclusive Pringles Park frequency - 104.7-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: 3:13

ATTENDANCE: 1,301

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves improve to 20-16 on the road.
* The Braves improve to 6-4 in two-run games.
* The Braves improve to 20-8 in errorless games.
* The Braves improve to 34-12 when scoring first.
* The Braves improve to 11-4 in the first game of a series.
* The Braves improve to 34-0 when leading after 8 innings.
* The Braves improve to 5-2 in the first game of a road trip.
* The Braves improve to 32-11 when scoring 4 or more runs.
* Every Brave registered at least one hit, while 4 Braves had multi-hit games.
* The Braves registered 11 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $529 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (2 games or more):
* Ray Serrano - 10 games (14-31, .472)
* J.C. Holt - 4 games (6-14, .429)
* Greg Creek -4 games (4-12, .333)
* Matt Esquivel - 4 games (5-15, .333)
* Clint Sammons - 2 games (2-7, 2.86)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* Josh Burrus - (0-10) - 5th inning leadoff single.
* Mike Rozema - (0-13) - RBI triple in 4th inning.
* Mark Jurich - (0-15) - Leadoff triple in 2nd inning.

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS:
* Carl Loadenthal (0-12)

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

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

by
Bryan Eubank