PEARL, MS - The Biloxi Shuckers (10-9, 51-38) handed the Mississippi Braves (7-12, 51-38) their fifth one-run loss over the last week, 4-3, on Monday night at Trustmark Park. Ryan Casteel blasted his team-leading 15th home run in the eighth inning in the series-clinching loss. Rehabbing Atlanta Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte finished 0-for-3
PEARL, MS - The Biloxi Shuckers (10-9, 51-38) handed the Mississippi Braves (7-12, 51-38) their fifth one-run loss over the last week, 4-3, on Monday night at Trustmark Park. Ryan Casteel blasted his team-leading 15th home run in the eighth inning in the series-clinching loss. Rehabbing Atlanta Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte finished 0-for-3 in his first game for Mississippi, playing the first seven innings in centerfield.
Claudio Custodio (L, 3-2) made his first start in 92 career games on Monday night, starting in place of Ian Anderson , who pitched in the Futures Game on Sunday. The 28-year-old former infielder suffered the loss, giving up three runs, two earned runs, on four hits over 4.0 innings. Entering the game, Custodio hadn't allowed a run in his past four outings and 8.2 innings.
Biloxi's Jake Gatewood and Weston Wilson started their second inning off with singles and Gatewood scored on an errant throw by Custodio on a sacrifice bunt attempt by C.J. Hinojosa. Joantgel Segovia hit into a 4-6-3 double play, but Wilson came across to score, and it was 2-0.
Michael O'Neil started Biloxi's third inning with a single, and after a near spectacular catch in left field by Drew Waters , he moved to third on the double by Bruce Caldwell. O'Neil scored to make it 3-0 on a fielders' choice off the bat of Dillon Thomas.
Daniel Lockhart and Custodio collected back-to-back singles to start the third inning, and Lockhart put Mississippi on the board by scoring on a Waters groundout. Those were the only two hits the M-Braves could muster against Biloxi starter Trey Supak (W, 9-4). The league-leader in wins and WHIP tossed 7.0 innings of one-run baseball in the victory, retiring the final 15 batters he faced.
After a scoreless fifth inning, M-Braves reliever Bradley Roney yielded a home run to Wilson, increasing their lead to three at 4-1. Roney worked two innings behind Custodio and gave up just the lone run.
Connor Johnstone tossed 3.0 outstanding innings of two-hit baseball with two strikeouts, on just 32 pitches (26 strikes), keeping the Shuckers within reach.
Ryan Casteel took over at first base for Tyler Neslony in the seventh inning and in his lone at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning, smashed his 15th homer of the season the opposite way to pull Mississippi with a run at 4-3. The homer came after a pitch hit Ray-Patrick Didder for the tenth time this season and L.ockhart reached on a fielders' choice. Casteel ranks fourth in the league in home runs and is tied for fourth in RBI's with team-leading 48.
Marcos Diplan (S, 2) walked pinch-hitter Riley Unroe in the ninth to put the tying run on base, but retired the next three batters to secure the series win for the Shuckers.
Going into the homestand finale and sixth game of the series on Tuesday morning, Biloxi leads the set, 4-1 and the season series, 10-5. in a rematch of game one on the fourth of July, LHP Kyle Muller (5-5, 3.43) starts for the Braves against RHP Bowden Francis (4-6, 4.43) for Biloxi. First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 am with coverage beginning at 10:20 am on 103.9 WYAB, TuneIn Radio and MiLB.tv (subscription required).
Monday's Promotions:
Tupelo Tuesday - "Ain't Nothin But a 2-for-1 Dog" courtesy of Polk's Meat Products: 16 oz fountain sodas are also 2-for-1. Every Tuesday, fans can exchange their Polk's Meat product label at the Trustmark Park Box office for 2-for-1 tickets.
Day Camp Matinee - Dick's Sporting Goods presents a summer matinee at Trustmark Park. What could be better?
Visit mississippibraves.com for tickets or call 888-BRAVES4.
