Mississippi falls to Biloxi in series opener

PEARL, MS -- The Mississippi Braves (12-29, 46-65) couldn't capitalize on two big innings and fell 7-6 to a late rally by the Biloxi Shuckers (19-22, 55-55) in the series opener at Trustmark Park.
Despite another quality outing from right-hander Mike Soroka, who turned 20 today, the M-Braves were unable to get the Canadian his 11th win of the season. Soroka went six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and six strikeouts. Soroka left the game with a four-run lead in place after six complete innings, but the bullpen was unable to hold on, as walks and errors let the Shuckers climb back in.
Biloxi started the scoring in the third, plating two runs on a hit and an error, the first of three by Mississippi. The Braves answered in the home-half of the third with Austin Riley's third homer of the year, a mammoth three-run shot onto the left field berm. 

Mississippi added three more in the fifth on two Biloxi errors, giving the Braves a 6-2 lead after five. But Biloxi used errant control by Mauricio Cabrera out of the pen to plate three runs in the seventh and make it a ballgame again. 
In the ninth, Junior Rincon walked two and hit another batter to load the bases with two outs. Danny Reynolds entered the game, and after Gabriel Noriega spoiled three two-strike pitches, the Shuckers got a clutch single to score two runs and take a 7-6 lead into the last half inning.
Mississippi was unable to mount any offense in the ninth, and Biloxi stole the win from the Braves to start the series. Offensively, Mississippi got three hits from Riley and two from Keith Curcio, but the offense wasn't able to keep pace with the defensive errors that allowed Biloxi to score three unearned runs in the game.
Biloxi: 7-6-2
Mississippi: 6-8-3
WP: Lopez
LP: Rincon
SV: Ramsey
Attn: 2860
Time: 3:20 (1:11 delay)