M-Braves hit three homers to down Jumbo Shrimp, 6-4
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Mississippi Braves left-hander Kyle Muller struck out 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings, while left fielder Travis Demeritte, first baseman Tyler Marlette, and right fielder Connor Lien each homered in the visitors' 6-4 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in front of 8,711 on Wolfson Children's Hospital Health Care Superheroes Night and Family Faith Night with a postgame Rhett Walker Band concert Saturday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
The Braves (25-23 second half, 54-64 second half) took the lead when Demeritte led off the second inning with a home run to left field - his third of the series - off Jacksonville right-hander Cody Poteet (2-10). Demeritte also began a fourth-inning rally with a leadoff single, before Marlette hit a two-run home run to left field. Catcher Carlos Martinez then singled, and Lien hit his third home run in two games to left field, making it 5-0. Mississippi has hit eight homers in the last three games.
In his second Double-A start, Muller (2-0) recorded nine of his first 11 outs on strikeouts. With a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, he walked shortstop Joe Dunand and hit first baseman John Silviano with one out, before catcher Rodrigo Vigil hit a two-out, three-run home run to left field - his first at home since the home opener exactly four months earlier. Muller did not allow another run, yielding four hits and two walks.
Making his first home start since June 29, Poteet allowed five earned runs on six hits and three walks with one strikeout in five innings. Right-hander Jose Pena began the top of the sixth inning and hit Lien with one out. Lien stole second base and scored on shortstop Ray-Patrick Didder's RBI single to center field. Pena lasted two innings, allowing two hits and two walks with one strikeout, before left-hander Miguel Del Pozo and right-hander Kyle Keller pitched hitless single innings.
Jacksonville (19-29, 47-69) loaded the bases against Braves left-hander Justin Kelly in the seventh inning but did not score. Right-hander Jason Hursh pitched the last two innings and allowed center fielder Monte Harrison's ninth-inning RBI single before recording the final two outs for his second save, forcing a rubber match in Sunday's series finale.
UP NEXT: The Jumbo Shrimp conclude their series with Missisippi at 3:05 p.m. Sunday, when Jacksonville right-hander Max Duval (2-11) is scheduled to face Braves right-hander Ian Anderson in his Southern League debut. Gates open at 2 p.m., when families can play catch on the field, followed by player autographs on Baptist Health Sunday Family FUNday. Kids activities will be in the Wolfson Children's Hospital Kids Zone, and after the game, kids 12 and under can run the bases. Superhero Day presented by Wolfson Children's Hospital will include superheroes around the ballpark courtesy of WasabiCon. The game is presented by Easy 102.9.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League's Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy, and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by General Manager Harold Craw. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.