Offense Strikes Early, M-Braves Top Blue Wahoos 8-1

Rangel tosses six one-run innings, Milligan extends hit streak to nine games

By Jack Sadighian

August 19, 2022

PEARL, MS - The Mississippi Braves (51-60, 22-20) scored seven runs in the first two innings of an 8-1 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (56-50, 21-21) on Thursday night at Trustmark Park. In the first, Drew Lugbauer doubled in the first run of the game on a fly ball

PEARL, MS - The Mississippi Braves (51-60, 22-20) scored seven runs in the first two innings of an 8-1 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (56-50, 21-21) on Thursday night at Trustmark Park.

In the first, Drew Lugbauer doubled in the first run of the game on a fly ball that the left fielder lost in the overcast sky. Cade Bunnell smoked a two-run double into the gap in right center, and Riley Delgado grounded in a run to make it 4-0.

Lugbauer leads the Southern League with 23 home runs and is tied for fourth with 64 RBI. Bunnell went 2-for-4 with a home run in three RBI. In 19 games for the M-Braves, Bunnell is batting .349 with three homers and 13 RBI. He was promoted to Mississippi for a third time on August 10.

In the second, an error and a two-run single from Justyn-Henry Malloy brought in three runs to make it 7-0.

Malloy reached base four times, going 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBI. The outfielder is hitting .284 with three home runs and 18 RBI in 28 games for the M-Braves. In the most recent prospect rankings, Malloy jumped up 14 spots to No. 13 on Atlanta’s prospect list.

RHP Alan Rangel tossed six innings of one-run ball. He allowed one walk to six strikeouts. The right-hander worked around a bases loaded jam in the third, two runners in the fourth and two runners in the sixth in the start. In 22 starts, Rangel has a 4.94 ERA and 117 strikeouts over 94 2/3 innings.

RHP Coleman Huntley III worked out of a bases-loaded jam and struck out the side in the seventh inning.

Bunnell blasted a 423-foot homer to straightaway center for the final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh to make it 8-1.

Cody Milligan extended his hitting streak to nine games, going 3-for-4. Over the streak, Milligan has 17 hits, four doubles and four walks.

RHP Jason Creasy and RHP Kyle Wilcox each added shutout innings to secure the 8-1 win.

The fourth game of the series is on Friday at Trustmark Park. RHP Roddery Muñoz (0-0, 63.00) makes the start for Mississippi against a start to be named for Pensacola. The first pitch is at 6:35 pm CT, with coverage starting at 6:20 pm CT on 103.9 WYAB, First Pitch App, and MiLB.tv.