Streaking! M-Braves win third-straight on Wednesday, using three more home runs

*BILOXI, MS *- The Mississippi Braves hit three more home runs on Wednesday night and held off a ninth-inning comeback bid to beat Biloxi for the second-straight day, 5-4. The win is the M-Braves' third in-a-row, placing them a season-best two games over .500 at 17-15. Mississippi is now 5-3 on the road trip and 9-3 over their last 12 games.

Pitching ruled most of the game for the Braves in game two of the series, and it began with starter Odalvi Javier (W, 3-0). The 24-year-old turned in his most impressive performance of 2021 with 5.0 innings of one-run baseball, walking none and striking out six, lowering his ERA to 1.40 in six starts. After giving up a run in the first inning, Javier retired 13 of the final 14 Biloxi batters to close his outing and eventually record a third-straight win.

Meanwhile, the Pearl Bombers gave him some run support. The M-Braves responded to Biloxi's first-inning run in the second when Jefrey Ramos smashed a two-run home run to left. The homer off of Biloxi starter Leo Crawford (L, 1-3) was his first on the season.

Trey Harris hit his first home run of the year in the top of the sixth inning against reliever JT Hintzen to make it 3-1. Harris had been robbed twice of a homer this season, and finally was able to log his first round-tripper on Wednesday.

In the seventh, Braden Shewmake sliced a Hintzen pitch down the left-field line that cleared the fair pole and extended the Braves lead to 5-1. The two-run homer was Shewmake's second of the year, both coming at MGM Park. With three home runs on Wednesday, Mississippi has 34 on the year, third-most in the Double-A South and 11 over the last three games played in Biloxi. The Shuckers have given up a Double-A worst 53 long balls this year.

The Braves bullpen took over in the sixth inning and picked up where Javier left off. Brooks Wilson retired six-straight batters over 2.0 innings with three strikeouts and Chris Nunn struck out the side in the eighth inning. Going into the ninth inning, M-Braves pitchers had retired 14-straight batters and 22 of 23 since the first inning.

The five runs would all be needed in the ninth as Lucas Erceg belted a two-out, three-run home run off of Troy Bacon to pull the Shuckers within a run. The homer was the first allowed this season by Bacon, who still maintains an impressive 2.45 ERA. The 24-year-old bounced back to strike out Tristan Lutz to end the game.

The M-Braves are now 4-4 against Biloxi this season, with all eight games being played on the road. The two teams will meet 30 times this season.

The M-Braves will go for their fourth-straight win on Thursday night in game three of the series at Biloxi. RHP AJ Puckett (0-1, 3.18) will start for the M-Braves against LHP Nick Bennett (1-1, 8.10) for Biloxi. The first pitch is 6:35 pm with coverage on 103.9 WYAB, FirstPitch App, and mississippibraves.com.

The M-Braves will return to Trustmark Park on June 15 to begin a 12-game homestand against the Birmingham Barons and Tennessee Smokies. The homestand will feature two great giveaways. On Friday, June 18, the first 1,000 fans will get a Mississippi Braves beach towel, showcasing a panoramic photo of Trustmark Park, presented by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi. The first 1,500 fans on Friday, June 25, will get a Freddie Freeman replica jersey presented by Morgan & Morgan!

For tickets or more information about the M-Braves, visit mississippibraves.com or call 888-BRAVES4.