Braves Let One Get Away: L, 6-5 (10)

West Tenn jumped out to a 3-0 lead only to see the M-Braves come back to tie the score in the seventh.

Three D-Jaxx hits and two M-Braves errors plated three runs in the third, but the Braves would respond.

In the top of the fourth, Mississippi got two runners home to cut the lead to one. Matt Esquivel doubled to start things off for the Braves and with two outs, Ray Serrano singled him home. Serrano wisely moved to second on the throw home and scored when Greg Creek singled to right-center. The two two-out singles cut the lead to 3-2.

Van Pope's third homer of the year tied the game in the seventh, but the D-Jaxx responded in the eighth with two more runs to go back on top, 5-3.

The M-Braves weren't done though. In the top of the ninth, Mark Jurich led off with a double and Serrano followed with a triple to cut the lead to 5-4. Pope then hit a sacrifice fly that plated Serrano and tied the game at five.

In the bottom of the tenth, West Tenn's Casey Craig doubled to left to put the winning run in scoring position. After a Brent Johnson walk, Prentice Redman singled to left plating Craig with the winning run.

The walk-off loss negated a strong night by several M-Brave batters. Pope went 3-3 with two doubles and his third homer of the year. Serrano went 3-4 with a double, a triple, two RBI, and two runs scored. Esquivel and Jurich each had a double as well.

On the mound, Francisley Bueno gave up three runs, two earned, on eight hits in six innings of work and did not factor into the decision. Jose Ascanio gave up two runs, one earned, in 1.1 innings. Charlie Morton threw a scoreless inning while Joey Devine got saddled with the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the 10th.

The Braves will start up 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 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 Matt Harrison (5-2, 3.06 ERA) to the hill in search of his 3rd win, while the Biscuits will counter with league-win leader RHP Chris Mason (9-3, 2.86 ERA) who is looking for his tenth 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 To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.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: 3:18

ATTENDANCE: 3,745


by
Nick Skinner
(Mississippi Braves.com)