Mobile Holds off Braves Charge

Pearl, MS - The series finale between Mobile and Mississippi had a little bit of everything Friday night. Mobile got out to a 9-2 lead, but the Braves charged back with a five-run seventh inning. Though the M-Braves rallied, they couldn't close the gap as they fell in the finale, 9-7, in front of 3,537 fans at Trustmark Park.

Mobile plated a run in the first and a pair of runs in the second to take an early 3-0 lead. Evan Frey walked and scored on a Pedro Ciriaco single in the first. In the second, Pete Clifford singled and scored on a single by Frey and Guillermo Reyes singled home Frey for his second run scored in as many innings. After two, the visitors led 3-0.

Matt Young started the Braves' third inning with his league-leading 10th triple. He trotted home on Brandon Hicks' double to cut the lead to 3-1.

The BayBears wasted little time getting that run back. BayBears hurler Barry Enright ripped a one-out double and moved to third on a single from Frey. He scored on a sac-fly by Guillermo Reyes to give himself a 4-1 lead.

Kody Kirkland got a one-out double in the fourth and he came around to score on a Jose Camarena single to cut the lead to 4-2. Cyle Hankerd's seventh home run of 2009 extended the lead a little more in the fifth. His two-run shot put the visitors up 6-2.

Mobile plated three runs in the top of the seventh to take a commanding 9-2 lead, but the Braves weren't done. Mississippi scored five runs on one hit and three walks in the seventh inning to get back into the game. After seven, Mississippi trailed 9-7.

Mississippi threatened in the eighth and ninth, but couldn't close the gap.

Ryne Reynoso gave up six runs on eight hits in five innings and fell to 6-9 on the season. Deunte Heath threw a shutout inning and Steve Marek gave up three runs, one earned, in one inning. Brett Butts threw two shutout relief innings for Mississippi.

Enright allowed two runs in six innings and improved to 9-8 on the year. Leyson Septimo gave up five runs without retiring a batter. Josh Ellis threw two shutout frames and Jordan Norberto tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his second save.

Mississippi travels to Chattanooga for a five-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts. In game one Saturday, the Braves will send righty Tim Gustafson to the hill against Chattanooga's southpaw Alberto Bastardo.

The M-Braves return to Trustmark Park on Friday, August 28th for the final homestand of the 2009 regular season.