M-Braves Come Back, Stun Biscuits, 5-2

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Biscuits (25-34) squandered a 2-0 lead entering the eighth inning and suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Mississippi Braves (29-37), 5-2, on Thursday night at Riverwalk Stadium.

Michael Mercado made his ninth start and 11th overall appearance for the Biscuits, and the right-hander got into a bit of trouble in the top of the first, loading the bases on a couple singles and a walk, but ultimately struck out Andrew Moritz to get out of the jam without allowing a run.

Alan Rangel started on the other side for the M-Braves, and the Mexican righty retired the first two batters before walking Curtis Mead on 11 pitches, the Aussie having fought of several offerings to reach first. Kameron Misner then singled to right and Niko Hulsizer ripped an RBI-double to left to make it 1-0 Biscuits in the bottom of the first.

Mercado worked a one-two-three top of the second, before the Biscuits struck again with two outs in the bottom of the second. After Roberto Alvarez and Erik Ostberg grounded out to begin the inning, Tyler Frank doubled to right before Brett Wisely singled the second baseman home to increase the Biscuits’ lead to 2-0.

Andrew Gross relieved Mercado in the top of the third and wiggled out of another bases-loaded jam unscathed, and worked a scoreless fourth as well, holding the Biscuits’ 2-0 advantage. Caleb Sampen then came on for Gross and worked a scoreless fifth, sixth, and seventh.

Josh Roberson entered for Sampen in the top of the eighth, and after retiring the first two batters via groundouts, the right-hander allowed an infield single to Moritz before Yariel Gonzalez blasted an RBI-double off the wall in right-center field to make it a one-run game at 2-1.

Roberson was back on to try to close things out in the top of the ninth, and got Trey Harris to ground out to second for the first out. But Roberson then walked Cody Milligan and served up an RBI-triple off the wall in right to Justin Dean that tied the game at two.

Roberson then struck out C.J. Alexander in the next at-bat and intentionally walked Drew Lugbauer to put runners at the corners with two outs. Carlos Garcia came on for Roberson, and after walking Jalen Miller, the righty surrendered a two-run single to Moritz, which broke the tie and put the M-Braves ahead for good at 4-2. A wild pitch eventually made it 5-2, and Jake Higginbotham closed things out in the bottom of the ninth for the lefty’s second save.

The Biscuits will try to bounce back on Friday when Taj Bradley (2-1) clashes with Freddy Tarnok (1-2) at 6:35 PM CT when there will be a Cookie Cutter Giveaway at Riverwalk Stadium.

The rest of the series includes “Fan vs. Food” Challenge & MAX Fireworks on Saturday, June 25th at 6:05, and Kids Baker Hat Giveaway Sunday, June 26th at 3:33 PM CT.