Braves Win First Half Title: W, 5-2

With a win over Mobile the Braves could celebrate their first ever secured playoff spot in MS Braves history. So the Braves turned it over to Kelvin Villa who has been inconsistent at best during the first half of this season, but on Sunday afternoon at Trustmark Park, he was sensational. He gave the Braves (42-28) seven strong innings and won his fourth game of the year. The offense provided more than enough firepower as they defeated the BayBears (37-33), 5-2 in front of a Father's Day crowd of 2,791 at Trustmark Park.

The Braves trailed early as Wilkin Castillo picked up a two-out RBI single in the top of the 4th inning. The Braves answered in the bottom of the same inning as Kelvin Villa got a two-out rally started with a single (his first hit of the season) to right field. J.C. Holt and Carl Loadenthal followed with walks which brought up Brandon Jones. He fouled off a pitch that was carried into the seats by the wind which gave him a second chance and he delivered with a bases-clearing triple to right field. Matt Esquivel brought him in on the next pitch with his league-leading 53rd RBI of the season. Clint Sammons added an RBI single in the 5th to close out the Braves scoring. Jose Ascaio tossed the final two frames to finish it off for the newly crowned first-half champs.

Kelvin Villa (4-5, 5.48 ERA) was the Braves Players of the Game as he stopped a personal 2-game losing streak and started the two-out rally in the third inning. Villa tossed 7 innings while scattering 5 hits and allowing just a single run on one walk and three strikeouts.

The Braves will start up a six-game series in Jackson, Tennessee at Trustmark Park as they take on the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, the AA Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, in the first game of their Southern League Series and the Second Half. 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 Francisely Bueno (3-5, 5.97 ERA) to the hill in search of his 4th win, while the D-Jaxx will counter with LHP Justin Thomas (2-3, 3.26 ERA) who is looking for his third 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 To catch an archived version of tonight's game or any previous MS Braves game head to Minor League Baseball.com and select the day you want to hear.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: 2:23

ATTENDANCE: 2,791 (128,412 Total - 3,669 Home Average)

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves improve to 23-12 at home .
* The Braves improve to 6-8 in the last game of a series.
* The Braves improve to 4-1 in the last game of a homestand.
* The Braves improve to 9-16 when their opponent scores first.
* The Braves registered 5 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $518 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

by
Bryan Eubank