Braves Stuck in a Rut: L, 5-3

The Braves fell to the BayBears in front of the largest crowd this season at Trustmark Park (6,469) as they began their last 5-game series of the first half with a 5-3 loss. With the loss the Braves (40-26) still maintain their lead in the South Division but it is now at 3 games over the Suns. The Braves magic number to clinch the first half is still at 2 with 4 games remaining. The BayBears (35-31) are out of the first half race as they trail the Braves by 5 games with 4 to play.
Francisely Bueno (2-3, 3.33 ERA) had a couple of hiccups in his outing as he lasted 6 innings but gave up 5 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits and the Braves offense never woke. Charlie Morton and Zach Schreiber both tossed scoreless frames in their relief effort.

Van Pope was the Braves Players of the Game as finished 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI. He also walked twice in the 7th and 9th innings to try and start a rally that were both squashed by double plays hit into by Greg Creek.

The Braves will continue a 5-game series in Pearl, Mississippi at Trustmark Park as they take on the Mobile BayBears, the AA Affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, 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 (5-1, 3.53 ERA) to the hill in search of his 6th win, while the BayBears will counter with RHP Chris Kinsey (3-4, 4.19 ERA) who is looking for his fourth 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 To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.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: 3:00

ATTENDANCE: 6,469

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves fell to 21-10 at home .
* The Braves fell to 5-4 in 2-run games.
* The Braves fell to 7-7 when scoring 3 runs.
* The Braves fell to 3-23 when trailing after 8 innings.
* The Braves fell to 8-14 when their opponent scores first.
* The Braves fell to 10-4 in the first game of a series.
* The Braves fell to 4-3 in the first game of a homestand.
* The Braves registered 9 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $483 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (2 games or more):
* Ray Serrano - 8 games (12-27, .444)
* Brandon Jones -3 games (3-11, .273)
* Matt Esquivel - 2 games (5-9, .555)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED:
* NONE

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS:
* Greg Creek (0-9)
* Josh Burrus (0-7)
* Mark Jurich (0-9)

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

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

by
Bryan Eubank