Five-Run 8th Inning Does in Braves: L, 8-2

The Biscuits used a five-run 8th inning to seal a Game Three win (8-2) over the MS Braves in front of a Friday night crowd of 5,421 fans at Rivewalk Stadium. The Braves (10-14) had a chance to gain some ground on Jacksonville but dropped to 51-42 overall. The Biscuits (17-6) moved back into a tie for 1st place in the South Division with Jacksonville and improved to 52-41 overall on the season. The Braves finished 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position (6-for-24 in the series) in the game while the Biscuits finished 4-for-10 in that same category (8-for-26 in the series).

Matt Harrison (5-5, 3.27 ERA) had an up and down night on the hill as he gave up three runs on seven hits in his seven innings of work. He gave up a solo homerun to Reid Brignac and a pair of RBI singlese to Evan Longoria and Brooks Badeaux. Things fell apart for the Braves in the 8th inning as Wes Wilkerson entered and allowed his first runs as a MS Brave. When the dust settled he gave up 5 runs on 5 hits (2 two-run Homers [Gabriel Martinez & Patrick Breen], Double, 2 singles) which put the game out of reach for the Braves in the 9th.

Chris Mason (11-4, 2.45 ERA) was on point for the majority of his start despite being limited to 85 pitches. He gave up just one run in his six innings of work and induced three double play balls to end the 1st, 5th and 6th innings. He also collected his league-leading 11th victory. Richard De Los Santos worked the 7th and 8th allowing an unearned run on two hits. Dale Thayer tossed a perfect 9th to finish off the game.

Brandon Jones was the Braves player of the game as he picked up his league-leading 68th RBI on a 2-for-4 night at the plate with a single and a double that nearly went out of the park.

Saturday night the Braves will continue a five game set in Montgomery, Alabama at Riverwalk Stadium as they take on the Montgomery Biscuits, the AA Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, in the fourth game of their Southern League 5-Game 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 will send LHP Kelvin Villa (6-6, 5.09 ERA) to the hill in search of his seventh win while the Biscuits will counter with LHP Mike Prochaska (4-7, 4.35 ERA) who is looking for his fifth victory. Make sure you take your radio to the game and tune to the exclusive Riverwalk Stadium frequency - 104.9-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: 2:15

ATTENDANCE: 4,387

BRAVES BITES:
* The Braves fall to 24-24 on the road.
* The Braves fall to 13-22 when allowing a homerun.
* The Braves fall to 6-17 when scoring 2 or fewer runs.
* The Braves fall to 13-24 when their opponenet scores first.
* The Braves registered 6 more strikeouts on the mound.(Performance Sports Academy K's for Kids Total: $679 to the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital)

ACTIVE HIT STREAKS (2 games or more):
* Greg Creek - 4 games (4-10, .400)
* Ray Serrano - 6 games (10-26, .385)
* Carl Loadenthal - 9 games (14-34, .412)
* Brandon Jones - 12 games (19-48, .396) - sets a new season high

HIT STREAKS ENDED:
* Diory Hernandez - 8 games (12-32, .375)

HITLESS STREAKS ENDED:
* Van Pope - (0-7) - 7th inning single
* Clint Sammons - (0-5) - 2nd inning 2-run single
* Mark Jurich (0-6) - 6th inning single

ACTIVE HITLESS STREAKS:
* Matt Esquivel - (0-7)
* J.C. Holt - (0-10)
* Josh Burrus - (0-10)

TRANSACTIONS:
* RHP Jose Ascanio was promoted to Atlanta

(Players in Italics did not play)

by
Bryan Eubank