M-Braves sweep BayBears, benches clear

PEARL, MS-The Mississippi Braves defeated the Mobile BayBears 7-3 to complete the series sweep Saturday night at Trustmark Park. With two outs in the top of the ninth, Cory Rasmus hit a batter, resulting in immediate ejection from the game. Mike Tarsi then came in to pitch and after a wild pitch to the next batter, Rossmel Perez came in to score. He took out Tarsi, who was covering the plate, and both benches cleared.

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt, Braves third baseman Alden Carrithers, BayBears catcher Perez, and BayBears manager Turner Ward were all ejected from the game following the brawl. Tarsi remained in the game to record the final out and close the game.

Zeke Spruill (7-10) limited Mobile to just two runs, one earned, on six hits, a homer, and a walk. He struck out three batters in eight innings of work.

The M-Braves (15-19, 45-59) scored seven runs on 11 hits while Mobile (13-22, 53-52) plated three runs on seven hits. Bethancourt led the M-Braves offense with a 3-for-3 night at the plate. He drove in three runs and scored three times. Joey Terdoslavich also had three hits on the night.

Chris Owings launched a solo homer in the top of the third, his third long ball of the season, to give the BayBears a 1-0 lead.

The M-Braves responded in the bottom of the frame. Todd Cunningham, Bethancourt, and Terdoslavich singled to load the bases. Tim Smith followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, tying the game at 1-1. Phil Gosselin then grounded out to second, driving home Bethancourt to give the M-Braves a 2-1 lead.

Jaime Pedroza reached on an error by the third baseman and Carrithers singled to start the fourth. After a sacrifice bunt from Zeke Spruill, Christian Bethancourt delivered a three-run home run to left field, extending the M-Braves lead to 5-1.

The Braves added a run in the seventh to make it 6-1 when Keenan Wiley reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on a Pedroza double down the right field line.

Daniel Kaczrowski and Owings singled to start the eighth. Marc Krauss then struck out swinging with Kaczrowski stealing on the same pitch. Bethancourt overthrew third base, allowing Kaczrowski to score and cut the M-Braves lead to 6-2.

Mississippi responded with a run in the bottom of the eighth. Bethancourt was hit by a pitch and promptly stole second base. He then came in to score on a Terdoslavich single, making it a 7-2 game.

Rasmus came on to work the ninth. After recording two outs and hitting Rossmel Perez with a pitch, he was ejected from the game. Mike Tarsi then came on to pitch and benches cleared.

Derek Eitel (7-8) went six inning for the BayBears. He gave up five runs, two earned, on eight hits and a home run.

The Braves begin a 10-game road trip with a five-game series against the Montgomery Biscuits Sunday night. In game one, M-Braves' lefty Brent Leach (0-2, 1.50) counters Biscuits' right-hander Alex Colome (7-3, 3.68). First pitch is set for 6:05 PM at Riverwalk Stadium.

Mobile BayBears (13-22, 53-52): 3 R 7 H 3 E
Mississippi Braves (15-19, 45-59): 7 R 11 H 2 E

W: Zeke Spruill (7-10)
L: Derek Eitel (7-8)

Time: 2:51
Attendance: 2,708