Lockhart and Martinez homer to back Muller in Sunday win over BayBears

MOBILE, AL - The Mississippi Braves (17-19, 49-55) hit two home runs to back Kyle Muller's  (W, 7-6) scoreless outing and avenged Saturday's loss with a 6-1 victory over the Mobile BayBears (14-22, 41-63) on Sunday afternoon at Hank Aaron Stadium. The win moves Mississippi's record to 4-3 on the road trip, and to 8-3 over their last 11 games. 

The M-Braves were no-hit through the first five innings on Sunday by Mobile starter Greg Mahle (L, 0-1) before the bats broke out in the sixth inning. Daniel Lockhart  (2) hit a leadoff home run to left, breaking the scoreless tie and collecting Mississippi's first hit of the game. Carlos Martínez  added a single and then Alejandro Salazar  reached on one of the three BayBears' errors to put two on base. Mahle retired the next two Braves before giving up a two-run double to Drew Waters , upping the Braves lead to 3-0. Mobile centerfielder Erick Salcedo lost the deep fly ball to left-center in the sun, resulting in Waters' 34th double of the season and 48th extra-base hit. 

Muller allowed one hit in each inning during his team-leading 21st start, but posted 5.1 shutout innings, striking out four and walking three. Muller went his third straight start without allowing earned run, lowering his season-ERA to 3.14. Over those starts, the left-hander from Dallas has ceded just two unearned runs on 11 hits with 15 strikeouts in 16.2 innings.

The M-Braves extended their lead to 5-0 on Martinez' first home run of 2019 in the top of the seventh inning. The two-run shot against Mobile reliever Luis Pena came with two outs. Greyson Jenista reached base safely three times on Sunday, finishing 1-for-2 with a run and RBI on a seventh-inning bases-loaded walk issued by Adrian Almeida. The Braves scored in three-straight innings to lead 6-0.  

Kurt Hoekstra  (H, 1) earned a win in his first outing in Jackson and the right-hander picked up a hold with 2.2 innings of effective relief behind Muller in his second outing. The Western Michigan product struck out two and walked none, giving up three hits in the appearance. 

Mobile avoided being shutout by cracking back-to-back two-out doubles in the bottom of the ninth inning against reliever Claudio Custodio , but ultimitely fell, 6-1. 

The M-Braves scored first for the tenth straight game at Hank Aaron Stadium, dating back to 2018, improving to 4-6 over those contests. The BayBears have lost nine of their last ten games. 

The M-Braves will look to take a 2-1 series lead over the BayBears in game three of the five-game set on Monday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. Southern League ERA leader LHP Tucker Davidson  (5-6, 2.01) starts for the Braves against RHP Andrew Wantz (0-2, 4.04) for Mobile. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm CT with coverage beginning at 6:20 pm on 103.9 FM, First Pitch App. and TuneIn Radio. The game will also be streamed on MiLB.tv (subscription required).

The M-Braves return to Trustmark Park for a five-game series against the Tennessee Smokies, Aug. 1-5. The homestand features Mississippi State Night, Thirsty Thursday, Cowbell Sticker and Chris Maloney Bobblehead Giveaway and the largest Fireworks Show in Trustmark Park history on Saturday, Aug. 3. Visit mississippibraves.com for tickets or call 888-BRAVES4.