M-Braves' biggest inning of 2019 caps doubleheader split and 4-1 road trip in Jackson

JACKSON, TN - The Mississippi Braves (30-33) split a doubleheader with the Jackson Generals (35-30) on Tuesday afternoon in Jackson, Tennessee, finishing off a 4-1 road trip. The Generals won the first contest 2-1, and the M-Braves rallied for a seven-run seventh inning in game two to win 7-1.

Drew Waters  went 4-for-8 with two RBI over the two games on Tuesday, upping his Southern League-leading on-base streak to 19 games. Waters went 8-for-16 in the series, moving his batting average to a league-best .328 and Double-A best 82 hits.

Kyle Muller  (L, 4-3) got the start in game one and delivered a quality start in the 2-1 loss. Cristian Pache  singled to start the game and then Waters followed with a double down the left field line, his 20th two-bagger on the year. Pache scored on a Greyson Jenista  sacrifice fly to give the M-Braves a 1-0 lead. 

The Braves kept the advantage until the third inning when Drew Ellis hit a two-run homer off Muller to put the Generals up 2-1. 

That was Muller's only hiccup in his 13th start of the year, posting his sixth quality start in his last eight appearances. Overall the No. 11 prospect for the Atlanta Braves allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts over a complete game, 6.0 innings. Muller exited the outing still leading the league with a .180 opponents' batting average. 

Ray-Patrick Didder  doubled and finished 2-for-3 in game one.

Game two was a pitcher's duel up until the final frame. Andres Santiago  made the spot start for Mississippi and delivered 4.0 shutout innings on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Reliever Jordan Harrison  added a scoreless inning in the fifth. 

Jackson broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning against M-Braves reliever Jason Hursh . Andy Young led off with a double and scored on a fielders' choice off the bat Jeffrey Baez.  

Three outs away from a doubleheader sweep, the Generals called on Matt Brill to finish the game, appearing for the second time in the series. The right-hander got Jenista to fly out for the first out, but let the next nine batters reach base safely. Luis Valenzuela  started the rally with a walk, and he moved to second base on a single from Carlos Martínez . Reliever Claudio Custodio  pinch-ran for Martinez and promptly stole second base, his second steal in as many days. Didder hit a ground ball to second, and Valenzuela scored ahead of the throw to tie the game at 1-1. 

Riley Unroe  drew a walk to load the bases and Waters ripped a long single to left-center to put the M-Braves in front 3-1. Neslony walked, and Ryan Casteel  hit a bases-clearing double to push the advantage to 6-1. Pache pinch-hit for Hursh and hit a double to bring home Casteel, and it was 7-1. Casteel has seven RBI over his last three games. 

Ultimately the M-Braves had their biggest inning of the year in the seventh inning and sent 13 batters to the plate, collecting three walks and five hits. The previous season high was a five-run inning twice. 

Josh Graham pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning to seal the 7-1 win. 

The M-Braves head home to take on the Mobile BayBears for six games in five days to close out the first half. LHP Joey Wentz  (2-5, 5.05) will get the nod for the M-Braves in the first game, and RHP Luis Madero (3-3, 3.50) starts for the BayBears First pitch is set for 6:35 pm with coverage beginning at 6:20 pm on 103.9 WYAB, TuneIn Radio, MiLB First Pitch app. and MiLB.TV (subscription required).

Wednesday's promotions:

• Join Us For A Jackson" - Every Wednesday this season fans can get (4) field level tickets and (4) 16 oz soft drinks for just one "Andrew Jackson" ($20)! Additional tickets only $5. (AVAILABLE AT BOX OFFICE ONLY).
• AMR First Responders Wednesday - ALL First Responders/Emergency Response personnel receive FREE Field Level and General Admission tickets when presenting ID. First Responders/Emergency Response personnel receive $5 tickets to all other games with ID.