M-Braves Lose Ground in Playoff Chase with Loss to Biscuits
Montgomery, AL - The Mississippi Braves fell behind early and couldn't make up ground in an 8-3 loss to the Montgomery Biscuits on Sunday night at Riverwalk Stadium.
The Biscuits (29-28) scored seven runs-six earned--through the first four frames, all charged to starting pitcher Ryan Weber, to build up a 7-0 lead that they would never relinquish.
Second baseman Ryan Brett started the Montgomery offense in the first with a double to left, moving to third on a groundout and scoring with a Cameron Seitzer sacrifice fly to left field to make it 1-0.
In the second, The Biscuits loaded the bags on a Luke Maile single, a walk by Jeff Malm and an Alejandro Segovia single. Weber got shortstop Hector Guevara to bounce one to second base for a possible double play, but Barrett Kleinknecht pulled the glove up too soon and it squeaked into centerfield to plate a pair for a 3-0 Biscuits lead.
Montgomery pulled away with a four run fourth inning, sending all nine men to the plate to stretch the lead to 7-0. Maile led off with a single, and Segovia and Guevara hit back-to-back singles with one out to load the bases. Brett knocked in the first run with a single then Willie Argo plated another with a knock of his own. After Seitzer lined out to first, Richie Shaffer hit a two-run single that nicked off Kyle Kubitza's glove at third to score two more.
Weber (1-1) was chased with two outs in the fourth, allowing seven runs, six earned, on ten hits over 3 2/3 innings, striking out one and walking one en route to his first loss of the year.
Meanwhile Mississippi (32-24) was unable to mount any major offense against Biscuits starter Victor Mateo. The Braves broke the shutout in the fifth when Kubitza walked and Elmer Reyes doubled to put men at second and third. Joe Leonard bounced out to short for an RBI to pull to 7-1.
Another RBI groundout in the sixth plated a second Braves run. Mycal Jones led off with a single and Cedric Hunter doubled to left to put two in scoring position, setting up a Seth Loman unassisted groundout to first base.
Mateo (7-4) was yanked after six innings, allowing just two earned on four hits while striking out four and walking two.
Matt Lollis came on in relief for the Biscuits in the seventh, loading the bases on singles by Kubitza and Reyes then a Daniel Carroll hit-by-pitch. Jones walked on five pitches to force in a run, but Lollis settled in and got Kleinknecht and Hunter-each representing the possible tying run-to fly out to the shallow outfield.
Maile put the game away against reliever James Hoyt, hitting a solo home run to left, his fourth of the year, putting the skids to any possible Braves momentum.
The Braves also saw John Cornely (2 1/3 innings) and Chasen Shreve (one inning) put together scoreless relief outings.
With Mobile's 16-9 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Sunday afternoon, the Braves lose a game in the South Division first half race, falling to two games back with 13 games remaining.
The M-Braves will try to bounce back on Monday night at 7:05 PM CT, with right-hander JR Graham (0-2, 4.66) set to take the hill opposite Biscuits right-hander Dylan Floro (4-5, 4.03) in the third of a five-game series.
Listen live to Kyle Tait on the call beginning at 6:30 PM CT on 103.9 WYAB and online at MississippiBraves.com or TuneIn Radio.
Mississippi Braves (32-24) 3 R 6 H 1 E
Montgomery Biscuits (29-28) 8 R 12 H 1 E
W - Mateo (7-4)
L - Weber (1-1)
Time - 2:28
Attendance - 2,170