Walks Doom M-Braves in Mobile

Mobile, AL - The Mississippi Braves walked nine total Mobile BayBears in Thursday night's series opener at Hank Aaron Stadium, dropping a 7-2 decision to the double-A Diamondbacks to fall to 2-4 on the current 10-game road trip.

Leading 1-0 entering the fourth, three Mississippi (17-24) pitchers combined to throw 54 total pitches to the BayBears (18-22). Starter Andrew Thurman (0-4) and reliever Danny Burawa gave up five runs total on five walks and three hits before Stephen Janas came in to end the long frame.

After two walks started the inning, Jamie Westbrook doubled home Gabriel Guerrero to tie the game. That ended Thurman's day, taking the loss with three runs on five hits, six walks and two strikeouts over 3 1/3 frames.

Burawa came on in relief and with two out gave up a go-ahead single to Evan Marzilli for a 2-1 lead. Ildemaro Vargas walked and Stewart Ijames hit a two-run single for a 4-1 lead. Burawa walked Michael Perez and Guerrero to force home another run, stretching the lead to 5-1.

Janas got out of the long inning by inducing a flyout from Cody Regis to center, but the BayBears never looked back.

In the fifth, the BayBears added two more on Janas. Kevin Cron doubled to lead off and Westbrook followed with a two-run home run, his second of the year, to make it 7-1. The homer ended Janas' team-high scoreless streak at 16 innings.

The Braves were stifled by BayBear starter John Omahen (2-4), who allowed just a Dansby Swanson solo home run in the first over seven strong innings. He gave up a run on five hits, striking out five and walking one in the win.

Mississippi scored the final run of the game in the eighth when Levi Hyams hit a pinch-hit home run, his second of the year, to make it 7-2. The homer ended an 0-for-18 drought for Hyams, and was the first pinch-hit homer for the Braves since Barrett Kleinknecht on August 3, 2014 did it against Mobile at Trustmark Park.

Mauricio Cabrera and Madison Younginer each added a scoreless frame in relief, while Swanson extended his hit streak to six games with a 2-for-4 day. Jordy Lara also added two hits, including a double.

The Braves try to halt the three-game skid on Friday night at 7:00 PM CT at Hank Aaron Stadium, sending right-hander Chris Ellis (6-0, 2.06) to the hill against BayBears right-hander Zack Godley (1-5, 4.32).

Mississippi Braves (17-24)                           2 R          8 H         0 E
Mobile BayBears (18-22)                              7 R          12 H       0 E

W - Omahen (2-4)
L - Thurman (0-4)
Time: 3:10
Attendance: 1,001