Morales drives in four as M-Braves hang on for 10-7 win over Generals

JACKSON, TN - A night after being shut out by the Generals on three hits, the M-Braves pounded out 14 hits in a 10-7 win on Tuesday night to even the series at 2-2. 

Jonathan Morales led the charge offensively, finishing the night 3-for-4, with two doubles, a triple and four RBI. The 10-run effort matched a season-high for the M-Braves (17-22), and 14 hits are second-most in a game this season. 
After a scoreless first inning at The Ballpark at Jackson, the Braves would score runs in the next five innings to build their lead on Tuesday. 
Morales helped to start the scoring in the second inning with a two-run double off the right-field wall, and it was 2-0. In the third, Michael Reed doubled, then went to third on a Luis Valenzuela groundout. Reed scored on a late throw home from shortstop Galli Cribbs Jr. on a Tyler Neslony ground ball to make it 3-0. 
The M-Braves pushed the lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning on back-to-back RBI triples from Morales and Daniel Lockhart. Lockhart scored on a wild pitch from Jackson starter Ryan Atkinson (L, 1-4) and it was 6-0. 
The Generals (21-17) matched Mississippi's three runs in the top of the fourth inning with three runs of their own in the bottom half to draw within 6-3. 
The fifth inning began with three straight singles from Neslony, Alay Lago, and Demeritte to increase the lead to 7-3 and then Morales added his second RBI double of the game to push the advantage to 8-3. 
Valenzuela notched his first of two RBI singles in the sixth inning to score Reed, and the Braves led 9-3 heading to the bottom of the inning. 
Jackson's Marcus Littlewood led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo homer to right, off of M-Braves starter Andres Santiago. Kevin Medrano ended Santiago's night with an RBI single, trimming the lead to 9-5. 
Santiago (W, 1-0) battled through 5.2 innings in his second M-Braves start and allowed five runs on 10 hits, walking one and striking out five. Santiago was facing Jackson for the 12th time in his career with his third Southern League team.
Newly added right-hander Chad Sobotka induced a Jamie Westbrook flyout to end the sixth inning and keep the score at 9-5. 
The second RBI single of the night from Luis Valenzuela upped the lead to 10-5 in the eighth inning. The 24-year-old increased his hitting streak to seven games after Tuesday's 2-for-5 night at the plate. 
The game didn't finish without some ninth-inning drama. With light rain falling, Josh Graham started the inning and conceded a leadoff single then fielder's choice for the first out of the inning. Littlewood flew out to left for the second out of the inning. Jose Vinicio reached on an Alay Lago error and a run scored to make it 10-6. The next batter, Juniel Querecuto singled home Vinicio, and it was 10-7. Chris Maloney called on M-Braves closer Jacob Webb who walked leadoff hitter Daniel Roberston but struck out Medrano to end the game. 
Webb saved his seventh game of the season and is 7-for-9 in save chances. 
In total, five M-Braves collected at least one RBI on Tuesday and four had multi-hit evenings. 
The M-Braves and Generals will wrap up their five-game series on Wednesday with a 12:05 pm (CT) first pitch. The rubber match of the series will feature RHP Enderson Franco (1-3, 5.04) for the Braves against RHP Jon Duplantier (2-1, 2.79) for the Generals. The Braves will then head to East Tennessee to face the Tennessee Smokies for a five-game set beginning on Thursday morning. Fans can listen to all M-Braves games for free on 103.9 WYAB or the free TuneIn Radio App. 
The M-Braves will return home to Trustmark Park on Wednesday, May 23 for a five-game series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. The game will feature two promotions in AMR First Responders Wednesday presented by AMR (All First Responders/Emergency Response personnel, including law enforcement and firefighters, may purchase a $7 ticket in all seating areas, excluding Suite Level, when presenting ID. Excluding July 4) and Strike Out Hunger presented by the Mississippi Food Network (Fans who bring a canned food item to the Trustmark Park Box Office will receive a voucher for one $3 Field Level ticket).