M-Braves Comeback Falls Short Against Generals

Jackson, TN - After the Jackson Generals took a 5-0 lead on Friday night, the Mississippi Braves came charging back to make it a one-run game in the seventh. But a rough bottom of the seventh spelled doom, as the Generals pulled away again and won 8-5 at the Ballpark in Jackson.

The Generals (5-3) sent all nine men to the plate in a three-run seventh that featured four walks, a hit batter, an error and one hit off the M-Braves' bullpen.

That came only after the Braves (3-5) battled back from an early deficit.

Jackson scored the first run of the day in the fourth inning when Jabari Blash led off with a double, Kevin Rivers followed with a single and John Hicks walked to load the bases. First baseman Mickey Wiswall grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, scoring Blash from third.

Then in the fifth, the Generals loaded the bases with two outs to end starter Williams Perez's day. Ryan Weber came on in relief, and on an 0-1 pitch, Rivers hit a grand slam to right to make it 5-0.

Perez (0-1) went 4 2/3 innings in the start, allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits, striking out three and walking two.

The Braves wouldn't go down without a fight. In the sixth inning, Matt Lipka got a one-out single, and Cedric Hunter blasted his first home run of the year to pull to 5-2.

Then in the seventh, Kyle Kubitza walked before Robby Hefflinger, Gustavo Nunez and Braeden Schlehuber got three straight hits-the latter two plating runs to make it 5-4.

But the fateful bottom of the seventh spelled doom. Carlos Perez came on in relief and walked Gabriel Noriega before Ketel Marte reached on an error by second baseman Barrett Kleinknecht. The next two batters, Nate Melendres and Jabari Blash, walked to load the bases and force in a run, respectively to make it 6-4 and end the second Perez's relief appearance.

Ronan Pacheco came on and gave up a two-run single to John Hicks, extending the Generals' lead to 8-4.

Mississippi loaded the bases in the eighth and Kubitza hit a sacrifice fly to center, but 8-5 is as close as they'd come.

Stephen Landazuri (1-0) picked up the win for the Generals after throwing six innings of two-run on three-hit baseball, striking out eight.

Nunez and Joe Leonard each finished the day with two hits to pace the Braves' offense. There was a 27-minute delayed start due to rain.

The M-Braves will attempt to get back to even in the series on Saturday evening at 6:05 PM CT in the fourth of five games. Mississippi goes with right-hander JR Graham (0-0, 0.00), who didn't allow a hit in his five innings of work on Monday. The Generals counter with left-hander Cam Hobson (1-0, 1.59).

Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 5:30 PM CT on 103.9 WYAB or online at MississippiBraves.com and TuneIn Radio.

 

Mississippi Braves (3-5)    5 R 9 H      2 E
Jackson Generals (5-3) 8 R         10 H       1 E

W - Landazuri (1-1)
L - W. Perez (0-1)

Time - 2:50

Attendance - 2,016