M-Braves Stun Biscuits, Steal Victory, 2-0

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Despite eight scoreless innings from starting pitcher J.D. Martin, the Biscuits (52-45) were bested by the Mississippi Braves (42-54), 2-0, on Alabama Outdoors Night at Riverwalk Stadium. Travis Demeritte's ninth-inning two-run home run was the only score of the contest.
Martin had Mississippi guessing throughout the evening. The knuckleballer, just as Sam McWilliams on Thursday, struck out the first two batters before posting a scoreless frame.
Although the right-hander allowed his first baserunner in the second, Martin maneuvered through trouble, stranding all four M-Braves who reached before the eighth inning.
While Martin was fooling Mississippi, the Biscuits had no luck against opposing starter Bryse Wilson. The 20-year old plowed through Montgomery's lineup, striking out nine in seven innings.
Jake Cronenworth welcomed Braves' reliever Corbin Clouse (4-1) with a lead-off triple in the eighth. With the winning run 90 feet away, Nathan Lukes attempted a suicide squeeze bunt but failed to control Clouse's offering. As a result, Cronenworth, who was running on the delivery, was tagged out between third base and home plate.
In spite of the missed opportunity, Montgomery had a chance to plate the first run with Nate Lowe at the plate and runners on second and third. The slugging first baseman struck out with the pair in scoring position, keeping the duel no score.
After Alejandro Salazar singled to lead off the ninth, Biscuits' reliever Travis Ott (3-3) recovered by retiring the next two batters. However, Mississippi slugger Travis Demeritte kept Ott from escaping, blasting his tenth home run of the season while supplying the Braves a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Montgomery was shut down by Braves' closer Chad Sobotka, who set down the Biscuits in order.
Montgomery continues a five-game homestand against the Mississippi Braves Friday on First Responders Night, featuring MAX Fireworks, at 6:35 p.m. The Biscuits are scheduled to start Benton Moss (2-3) while the M-Braves will offer 2018 All-Star Futures Game representative Kyle Wright (5-7).
The series also includes Millennial Night with a participation ribbon giveaway and MAX Fireworks on Saturday, July 21, and Bark in the Park, featuring a Big Mo Growth Chart Giveaway, on Sunday, July 22.