M-Braves Drop Doubleheader to Jacksonville

PEARL, MS - The M-Braves and Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp picked up Wednesday night's suspended game in the top of the third inning on Thursday at Trustmark Park with Jacksonville taking the contest 8-1.
 
Jacksonville jumped out to a 2-0 lead before rain halted play on Wednesday with two runs in the top of the first inning against M-Braves starter Kyle Wright (L, 2-5). John Norwood scored on a single by Jacksonville pitcher Nick Neidert to start the scoring. Mason Davis plated Rodrigo Vigil with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

As play resumed on Thursday at 5:00 pm, Jacksonville added to their lead with a run in the fourth inning on an RBI single from pitcher Kolton Mahoney and then another in the fifth on a solo homer from Monte Harrison to make it 4-0 Jacksonville.
 
Mississippi avoided the shutout and scored their first run of the series in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out RBI infield single from Alay Lago.
 
The Jumbo Shrimp extended their advantage to 8-1 with a four-run seventh inning off of M-Braves reliever Elian Leyva. Eric Jagielo cleared the bases with a three-run double and John Norwood followed with a double of his own.
 
Wright suffered the loss after allowing the two runs in the second and Jacksonville reliever Kolton Mahoney (W, 3-3) earned the win.
After a 1:37 minute rain delay, game two of Thursday night's doubleheader began. The game began as a pitchers' duel between M-Braves starter, Touki Toussaint and Jumbo Shrimp starter, Pedro Lopez.
After three scoreless innings, Jacksonville plated the game's first run when Sharif Othman ripped a line drive RBI single to right field, allowing Cade Gotta to score.
In the top of the sixth inning, Brian Schales singled on a line drive to left field which allowed Gotta to score his second run of the game, giving Jacksonville a 2-0 lead.
Kyle Barrett produced Jacksonville's third and final run of the game in the top of the seventh inning via a line drive double to left field. Mason Davis scored on Barrett's double.   
Mississippi failed to manufacture any runs in the contest but Toussaint delivered a pitching clinic on the mound. In 6.0 innings pitched, Toussaint logged 10 strikeouts, tying his season high.
Lopez (1-2, 0.24) earned the win while Toussaint (2-4, 3.58) suffered the loss. Marcus Crescentini was credited with a hold and José Quijada earned the save.
The Mississippi Braves will regroup and prepare to bounce back when they host the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in game three of the five game series on Friday, May 25 at 7:00 p.m. (CT). RHP Bryse Wilson (1-0, 2.87) is scheduled as the M-Braves Friday night starter. Opposite of Wilson will be Jumbo Shrimp right-hander, Robert Dugger (0-0, 2.08). Promotions for Friday night's game will include, Friday Night Fireworks presented by WLBT3 On Your Side.
The Mississippi Braves are the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Since the inaugural 2005 season, over 125 M-Braves have gone on to Major League Baseball. The M-Braves have made postseason play four times and went on to win the Southern League Championship in 2008. Stop by Trustmark Park or call 888-BRAVES4 Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For the latest news and updates, visit mississippibraves.com or connect with @mbraves on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.