Smokies Halt Braves Rally: L, 5-4

James Henderson induced a game-ending bases-loaded ground out from Carl Loadenthal to take Game 1 of their Southern League series (5-4) in front of an announced crowd of 5,258 at Smokies Park. The Braves (5-8) dropped their third game in a row and fell to 47-35 on the season. The Smokies (7-6) halted a two-game losing skid as well as a 19 1/3 inning scoreless inning streak while improving to 43-38 on the season and two games behind Chattanooga.

The Braves got on the board first with a two-out two-run double by Mark Jurich. They added to their lead in the 2nd inning with a sacrifice fly by Carl Loadenthal to make the score 3-0 Braves. The Smokies responded with their first runs in over 19 innings as Chris Robinson got it started with a two-out walk which was followed by a two-run double by pitcher Kevin Hart. The Smokies completed the inning with two more two-out hits capped off by an RBI double by Issmael Salas.

In the 4th inning Kevin Hart got another two-out rally started with a two-out single (his second hit of the season which doubled his hit total for the year). Two batters later Issmael Salas delivered another two-out hit with a two-run single making it 5-2 in favor of the Smokies.

The Braves got a mammoth solo homerun (approx. 430 feet) from Mark Jurich in the 6th inning which cut the lead to one (5-4). In the 9th inning the Braves got two walks by Clint Sammons and pinch-hitter Brandon Jones along with a single by Greg Creek to load up the bases for Carl Loadenthal before he bounced out to James Henderson to end it.

James Parr (2-1, 3.92 ERA) suffered his first loss on the season as he lasted six innings while giving up 5 runs on 10 hits with 2walks and 3 strikeouts. Charlie Morton tossed two scoreless innings of relief for the Braves bullpen.

Mark Jurich was the Braves player of the game as he knocked in three of the Braves four runs with a solo homerun (5th of the season) and a two-run double. He upped his RBI total to 40 on the season.

The Braves will continue a 4-game series in Sevierville Tennessee at Smokies Park as they take on the Tennessee Smokies, the AA Affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, in the second game of their Southern League 4-Game Series. The Braves On Deck Circle presented by Wendy's will air starting at 3:00pm (CT). The First Pitch will follow at 4:00pm (CT). The Braves are scheduled to send RHP Brad Nelson (3-1, 5.40 ERA) to the hill in search of his 4th win, while the Biscuits will counter with RHP Mark Holliman (7-6, 2.74 ERA) who is coming off a 7-inning no-hitter while also looking for his eighth victory. Make sure you take your radio to the game and tune to the exclusive Smokies Park frequency - 104.1-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: 2:43

ATTENDANCE: 5,258


BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves fall to 22-20 on the road.
* The Braves fall to 14-12 in one-run games.
* The Braves fall to 22-11 in errorless games.
* The Braves fall to 35-15 when scoring 4 or more runs.
* The Braves fall to 36-15 when their opponent scores first.
* The Braves registered 5 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $610 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (2 games or more):
* Ray Serrano - 3 games (5-11, .455)
* Mike Rozema - 6 games (8-22, .364)
* Brandon Jones - 2 games (2-8, .250)

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* Mark Jurich - 2 games (5-9, .556)
* Diory Hernandez - 2 games (4-8, .500)

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED:
* Carl Loadenthal - (0-4) - 1st inning leadoff single
* Greg Creek - (0-6) - 2nd inning leadoff single

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS:
* Josh Burrus (0-5)
* Matt Esquivel (0-11)
* Van Pope (0-4)
* Diory Hernandez (0-8)

TRANSACTIONS:
* NONE

by
Bryan Eubank