Saltalamacchia slams BayBears

Jarrod Saltalamacchia launched two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in a career-high six runs Thursday as the Mississippi Braves outslugged the Mobile BayBears, 11-7, at Hank Aaron Stadium.

Saltalamacchia ripped a solo shot, his eighth, in the sixth inning and capped a five-run seventh with a slam off reliever Bubba Nelson (5-6) to give the Braves a 9-4 lead. He added a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

The 21-year-old catcher's last two-homer game came on July 24, 2005 while playing for Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach of the Carolina League. He has five homers and 10 RBIs in his last nine contests.

Brandon Jones added a two-run shot in the ninth and drove in three runs for Mississippi (14-20). Mike Rozema chipped in two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Braves reliever Ryan Basner (4-4) gave up one run on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in three innings.

Stephen Smitherman led the BayBears (17-17) with four RBIs. He crushed a three-run homer in the sixth and added an RBI single in the ninth.

Vince Sinisi went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and fell a triple shy of the cycle.